UJ- 


IOWA  AS  IT  IS 

IN    1855; 
A  GAZETTEER  FOR  CITIZENS, 


AND   A 


fur 


EMBRACING  A  FULL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

THE   STATE   OF  IOWA: 

HER  AGRICULTURAL,  MINERALOGICAL,  AND  GEOLOGICAL  CHARAC 

TER;  HER  WATER  COURSES,  TIMBER  LANDS,  SOIL  AND  CLIMATE; 

THE  VARIOUS  RAILROAD  LINES  BEING  BUILT  AND  THOSE 

PROJECTED,  WITH  THE  DISTANCES  ON  EACH;  THE  NUM 

BER  AND  CONDITION  OF  CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS  IN 

EACH  COUNTY  ;  POPULATION  AND  BUSINESS  STA 

TISTICS  OF  THE  MOST  IMPORTANT 

CITIES  AND  TOWNS. 

INFORMATION  FOR  THE  IMMIGRANT 

RESPECTING   THE 

SELECTION,  ENTRY,  AND  CULTIVATION  OF  PRAIRIE  SOIL  ;  A  LIST  OP 
UNENTERED  LANDS  IN  THE  STATE,  &c. 

WITH     NUMEROUS     ILLUSTRATIONS, 

BY    N.    HOWE    PARKER. 


CHICAGO,  ILL.: 


KEEN    AND    LEE. 

1855. 


REES 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1855,  by 

KEEN    &    LEE, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Northern  District 
of  Illinois. 

STEREOTYPED  BY  J.  FAOAN,  PHILADELPHIA. 


PRINTED  BY  SMITH  &  PETEKS, 
Franklin  Buildings,  Sixth  Street  below  Arch,  Philadelphia. 


TO 

THE  YOUNG  MEN  OF  IOWA, 

INTO  WHOSE  HANDS  WILL,  ERE  LONG,  RE  ENTRUSTED  THE  DESTINY 

OF  OUR  YOUNG  STATE,  AND  BY  WHOM  HER  FREE  SOIL,  HER 

BOUNDLESS    RESOURCES,   AND    HER   REPUBLICAN 

INSTITUTIONS,   ARE    SOON   TO    BE   DEVE 

LOPED,  CONTROLLED,  IMPROVED, 

AND  PERPETUATED, 

THIS  BOOK  IS  RESPECTFULLY 


THAT    THEY    PROYE    WORTHY    OF    THE    SACRED    TRUST,    NEVER 

SWERVING    FROM    THE    PATH    OF    DUTY,   AND    THAT    THEY 

EXERT  THEIR   PREROGATIVES   AS  FREEMEN,  TO   AD 

VANCE    INTO    AN    EVER-EXPANDING    PROSPE 

RITY  THE  NOBLE  STATE  WHOSE  HELM 

THEY    HOLD,    IS    THE    DESIRE 

AND  HOPE  OF 

THE   AUTHOR. 


208990 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Early  history  and  accession  of  territory  —  organization  — 
boundaries,  area,  etc 17 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  climate 20 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  soil 22 

CHAPTER  IV. 
General  appearance  of  the  prairies 25 

CHAPTER  V. 
Iowa  scenery — the  bluffs,  etc 28 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Rivers  and  their  tributaries 82 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Timber-lands 33 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Geology  of  Iowa 37 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Population — immense  immigration  of  1854 52 

CHAPTER  X. 
General  remarks 62 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Instructions  to  the  new-comer  respecting  the  selection,  entry, 
or  purchase  and  cultivation  of  prairie  lands 71 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Sketches  by  travelling  contributors  —  a  stranger's  impres 
sions,  etc 74 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Railroads 89 

1*  00 


Vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Railroad  distances  on  the  various  lines,  connecting  Chicago 
with  the  State  of  Iowa 97 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Statistics 104 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Description  of  counties 107 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Description  of  counties — continued 1^5 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Description  of  counties — continued 150 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Description  of  counties — continued 1G3 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Description  of  counties — concluded 174 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Western  Iowa  and  Nebraska 186 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

New  counties 199 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Unentered  lands  in  the  State 202 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

Constitution  of  the  State  of  Iowa 206 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
State  officers  and  Congressmen,  from  the  admission  into  the 

Union  to  the  present  time 234 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Policy  of  government 238 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Education 241 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Religious  worship 253 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Benevolent  societies 259 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Banking-houses 2G2 


PREFACE. 


AFTER  a  careful  arrangement  of  information  compiled  by 
piecemeal,  during  a  twelvemonth  passed  in  the  editorial  chair, 
and  during  that  period  subjected  to  constant  revision  and 
pruning — after  the  receipt  from  the  several  counties  in  our 
State,  of  the  latest  statistical  intelligence  relating  to  each — 
and  as  the  general  result  of  a  year's  attention  and  study — it 
is  that  the  Author  has  been  enabled  to  prepare  his  work  for 
the  public  eye.  He  is  aware  that  an  occasional  error  may 
have  crept  into  it,  or  that  here  and  there  a  piece  of  informa 
tion  may  have  been  omitted,  but  he  trusts  and  believes  that 
the  pains  he  has  taken  to  avoid  these  have  not  been  in  vain, 
and  that  if  any  are  found,  they  will  be  as  few  as  possible, 
and  in  no  case,  of  great  importance. 

It  is  the  design  and  aim  of  the  Author  in  presenting  his 
book  to  the  public,  to  supply  a  want  that  has  long  been  felt, 
and  which  is  being  daily  expressed,  as  well  by  the  present 
resident  in  Iowa,  as  by  the  countless  throng  still  pouring 
westward,  and  the  thousands  in  the  crowded  East,  whose 
thoughts  and  aspirations  turn  towards  us. 

Iowa  holds  out  to  the  emigrant  inducements  such  as  no 
other  State  in  our  Union  can  boast,  nor  is  any  other  at  this 
day  being  so  largely  flooded  by  the  onward  tide  of  immigra 
tion.  Her  resources  are  inexhaustible,  her  advantages  are 
beyond  the  scope  of  calculation,  and  her  claims  upon  the 
attention  of  every  class  and  sex  of  the  energetic,  the  in 
dustrious  and  the  ambitious,  are  as  peremptory  as  they  are 
vast.  Yet  is  there  a  deplorable  scarcity  of  such  published 
information  as  shall  set  forth  these  latent  sources  of  wealth. 

(vii) 


viii  PREFACE. 

The  eastern  traveller  and  emigrant ;  the  western  resident  — 
whether  he  be  but  a  new-comer,  or  whether  he  has  risen  to 
fortune  in  our  midst  —  and  the  State  itself,  require  such  an 
exposition  as  the  Author  has  attempted  in  the  following 
pages.  If  he  has  succeeded  in  representing,  according  to  its 
deserts,  "Iowa,  as  it  is  in  1855"  —  if  his  task  shall  tend  to 
throw  a  light  over  the  immigrant's  path,  or  to  erect  a  guide* 
board  upon  his  way — if  his  work  will  serve  to  eradicate  or 
lessen  whatever  of  misconception  or  of  prejudice  may  have 
existed  in  the  minds  of  strangers — if,  as  the  fruit  of  his  labors, 
he  shall  be  able  to  induce  others  to  join  the  mighty  host  that 
even  now  is  swarming  to  Iowa's  fertile  fields  —  if,  in  fine,  he 
has  been  able  to  place  Iowa  before  the  world,  in  its  true  light, 
and  to  assign  to  it  that  lofty  rank  among  the  States  which 
it  must  attain  and  forever  hold — he  will  feel  that  he  has  not 
fallen  short  of  the  elevated  goal  of  his  ambition,  and,  in  the 
consciousness  of  a  duty  fulfilled  will  reap  a  golden  reward. 

And  here  the  Author  feels  called  upon  to  express  the 
gratitude  he  foels  towards  those  to  whom  he  has  applied  for 
information.  With  scarcely  an  exception,  he  has  met  with 
prompt  and  kindly  answers,  and  an  earnest  co-operation. 
And  while  thus  returning  his  thanks,  he  would  ask  of  those 
who  have  aided  him  heretofore,  as  well  as  of  any  who  may 
bestow  their  attention  upon  his  book,  to  further  assist  him, 
and  whenever  they  may  detect  aught  that  is  erratic,  or 
discover  any  omission,  to  inform  him  in  the  matter,  that 
he  may  be  able,  in  his  next  edition,  to  rectify  the  one  and  fill 
up  the  other. 

N.  IL  P. 


DAVENPORT,  IOWA,  May,  1855. 


INTKODUCT10N. 


STILL  fresh  in  the  memories  of  a  few  of  her  citizens,  is  the 
time  when  Iowa  was  one  vast  wilderness.  Her  land  untilled, 
her  groves  unpeopled,  and  her  mighty  rivers  flowing  unim 
peded —  unadmired,  by  art  or  eye  of  man,  she  donned  her 
verdant  robes,  and  decked  her  fields  with  flowers  on  each  re 
turning  spring,  as  if  to  woo  the  distant  husbandman,  and 
when  chill  autumn  came,  she  shrank  again  into  the  sere  and 
withered,  waiting,  patient  still,  and  still  with  hope.  She 
heard  the  Indian  hunter's  shot  resound  amid  her  solitude ; 
she  held  the  imprint  of  his  step  upon  the  yielding  surface 
of  her  soil ;  she  watched  him  crawl  to  his  wigwam  home,  and 
lay  him  down  to  slothful  rest,  to  dream  of  the  ravage  or  the 
hunt.  She  saw  him  wake  from  sleep,  and  gird  about  his 
loins  the  savage  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife,  while  piercing 
war-w7hoops  rang  from  dell  to  dell,  and  whistling  balls  and 
rolling  thunders  shook  the  air  above,  and  bathed  the  blazing 
fields  in  gore.  She  heard  the  red  man's  cry  of  death  —  the  ' 
white  man's  shout  of  victory.  And  then  her  streams  and 
fields  —  her  hills  and  waving  woodlands — joined  in  one  vast 
choral  hymn,  when  banners  were  furled,  and  arms  were  lain 
to  rest,  and  Peace  snatched  the  sceptre  from  the  wearied  God 
of  War. 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

Then,  soon,  throughout  the  land,  a  lamentation  rose.  The 
red  man  stretched  his  form  upon  the  earth,  and  bathed  the 
sod  with  tears.  He  bade  a  long  farewell  to  hunting-ground 
and  river-bank  —  to  bluff  and  valley,  where  transcendent 
beauty  held  her  court,  or  uttered  a  parting  wail  beside  the 
graves  of  his  fathers — the  mounds  of  his  nation's  slumbering 
chiefs.  Here,  from  year  to  year,  had  successive  generations 
learned  to  kneel — here  had  their  voices  risen  annually,  in 
strains  of  mourning  and  of  homage,  for  the  loved  or  the  il 
lustrious  dead — here  had  been  their  refuge  in  times  of  sorrow 
or  of  trouble — and  here  had  they  found  a  retreat,  sequestered 
from  the  world,  and  hedged  round  with  a  sacred— an  unpro- 
faned  reverence.  But  although  he  lingered  still — although 
to  leave  these  solemn  scenes  occasioned  him  most  poignant 
grief — called  forth  the  wildest  throes  of  anguish — yet,  inexor 
able  fate  impelled  the  red  man  onward.  Civilization  required 
his  departure  ; — the  destiny  of  his  outcast  race  bade  him  fly 
from  before  the  coming  white  man's  face,  and  take  another 
step  towards  that  extinction  which  yawns  before  the  savage 
tribe.  He  raised  his  voice,  once  more,  in  cries  of  anguish, 
then  joined  the  mighty  Ishmaelitish  host,  and,  taking  up  the 
line  of  march,  he  pressed  his  farewell  foot-print  on  his  native 
soil,  and  left  behind  him  on  the  spreading  plains,  the  last 
Indian  trail  of  Iowa. 

E'en  yet  the  heavy  tramp  of  the  banished  nation  sounds 
along  the  western  horizon — e'en  yet  that  horizon  is  blackened 
by  the  forms  of  the  retreating  multitude — whenlo!  upon  the  east 
a  long  white  line  comes  gleaming  up,  seemingly  rising  out 
of  the  distant  ground.  One  by  one,  like  sails  at  sea,  the 
white-tented  wagons  of  the  immigrant  well  up  into  sight, 
and  soon  we  shall  see  their  occupants  encamped  near  yonder 
grove,  their  tents  gleaming  in  the  moonlight,  and  the  smoke 
of  their  camp-fires  spreading  like  a  protecting  shelter,  above 
their  deep,  untroubled  slumbers.  These  hardy  men,  with 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

their  aged  parents  and  adolescent  families,  moving  onward  in 
the  wake  of  the  expatriated  Indian,  are  the  pioneers  of  lowan 
civilization  —  the  vanguard  of  the  mighty  phalanx  that  is 
yet  to  come. 

The  immigration  to  Iowa  reminds  one  of  the  legendary 
days  of  the  Crusaders.  As  did  the  venturous  knights  of  old, 
the  emigrants  resign  the  endearments  and  luxuries  of  home, 
to  build  up  for  themselves  a  glorious  destiny,  amid  the  wilds 
of  a  strange  land.  They  go  to  rescue  from  the  desolation 
entailed  upon  it  by  savage  hordes,  a  region  stored  with 
Nature's  lavish  gifts ;  and,  as  those  misled  champions  of  the 
cross,  they  sally  forth  in  banded  numbers,  from  every  point 
of  a  civilized  world,  to  meet  in  the  brotherhood  of  a  great 
cause,  on  the  fertile  plains  where  tower  their  mutual  hopes. 
But  here  the  resemblance  ends.  The  valiant  knight  of  old 
went  forth  arrayed  in  all  the  paraphernalia  of  war,  to 
conquer — to  subdue — to  win,  by  fire  and  sword,  a  land  rich 
in  historic  lore  —  a  land  whose  interest  mainly  lay  in  the 
hereditary  annals  of  the  past.  But  the  modern  emigrant 
wends  his  way  to  territories,  whose  history  is  yet  unknown, 
whose  annals  are  yet  unwritten,  whose  value  and  grandeur  lie 
in  the  promises  of  the  future. — The  plough-share  and  the  pru- 
ning-hook  are  his  weapons,  his  companions  are  the  loved  ones 
of  either  sex.  The  Crusader  went  to  tear  down — to  demolish 
— a  dynasty ;  the  emigrant,  to  build  up  a  State.  The  former 
had  history  for  his  guide  —  the  latter  had  a  history  to  frame 
and  write. 

And  nobly  has  he  written  it.  In  the  unexcelled  prosperity 
of  the  land  of  his  adoption — in  the  magic  growth  of  her 
cities — upon  her  boundless  prairies,  as  on  a  vast  sheet — has 
he  traced  the  records  of  Iowa's  liberation  from  the  darkness 
of  the  Indian  ages.  And  these  are  records  that  posterity  will 
read  with  pride,  when  the  crumbling  monument  and 


Xll  INTRODUCTION. 

mouldering  legend  of  battle  and  of  victory  will  be  as  "  a  talo 
of  days  forgotten." 

IOWA  —  once  the  freehold  of  the  tawny  savage  —  is  now  a 
civilized  and  settled  State.  Where  once  the  wolf  went 
bounding,  now  waves  the  yellow  corn  ;  and  where  the  owlet 
hooted  to  the  solitude,  the  cabin-smoke  is  floating  on  the  air. 
Wherever  the  highway  winds,  the  ever-recurring  marks  of 
cheerful  industry  —  of  progress  —  of  prosperity — greet  the 
traveller's  eye,  till  one  is  disposed  to  rank  this  State  as 
cotemporary  with  many  of  her  elder  sisters.  The  immigrant 
is  no  longer  called  on  to  endure  the  vicissitudes,  the  hard 
ships,  and  the  dangers  of  a  frontier  life.  At  every  step  he 
meets  civilization  —  in  many  places,  finds  improvements 
in  the  art  of  farming,  such  as  he  dreamed  not  of  in  his 
Eastern  home ;  and  often  an  old  familiar  face  —  a  friend  who 
had  been  a  neigbor  in  years  gone  by  —  greets  his  arrival. 
Yet,  be  it  not  supposed  that  Iowa  is  full.  Far  from  it ;  still 
within  her  vast  domain  lie  millions  of  untilled  acres  —  un 
entered —  untouched  —  unreclaimed  from  primeval  wildness. 
They  await  the  immigrant  —  they  call  to  him  and  bid  him 
come.  Shall  it  be  asked  what  inducements  they  hold  forth 
to  tempt  him,  or  what  resources  they  possess  to  repay  his 
labor?  We  ask,  on  the  other  hand,  what  do  they  not  hold 
forth?  The  fertility  of  the  soil  in  Iowa  is  unsurpassed — not 
merely  by  that  of  her  kindred  States  —  not  merely  in  our 
Union — but  throughout  the  world  !  The  black  loam  that  over 
lies  her  prairies,  and  which  varies  in  depth  from  eighteen  to 
forty-eight  inches,  forms  an  inexhaustible  storehouse  of 
fecundity  and  agricultural  wealth.  It  rests  upon  a  deep 
subsoil  of  clay,  well  fitted  to  retain  moisture ;  and,  during  the 
driest  portions  of  the  year,  this  moisture  reascends  through 
the  surface-muck — thus,  by  a  constant  reaction,  weakening,  if 
not  annulling  the  effects  of  the  severest  drought.  This  was 
fully  proved  during  the  excessive  aridity  of  1854,  Iowa  having 


INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 

suffered  less  from  its  effects  than  any  other  State  in  the 
Union,  and  having,  since  then,  been  the  granary  of  that 
Union,  and  supplied  from  her  own  stores  the  exhausted 
markets  of  the  East  and  South.  This  may  sound  in 
credible —  fabulous;  and  yet,  Iowa,  the  youngest  of  the 
States,  has  actually  accomplished  it ! 

Such  are  the  inducements  Iowa  holds  out  to  the  farmer,1 
coupled  with  a  promise  to  return  him,  for  immeasurably  less 
labor  than  would  be  required  in  the  East,  an  unsurpassable 
abundance  of  any  and  every  article  which  the  zone  we  live 
in  is  capable  of  producing. 

But  again :  to  the  manufacturer  she  also  cries  come  I  She 
invites  him  to  behold  for  himself  her  immense  coal  regions, 
and  examine  the  qualities  of  the  coal;  to  roam,  hand  in 
hand  with  the  farmer,  over  the  vast  mineral  tracts  :  and  while 
he  admires  the  richness  of  the  mines,  to  let  the  farmer  wonder 
at  the  phenomenon  of  an  exceedingly  fertile  soil,  spread  out 
upon  the  immense  beds  of  lead.  Nor  is  this  all.  —  The 
abundance  of  first-rate  water-power,  and  the  amount  of 
building-stone  everywhere  to  be  found,  offer  such  advantages 
to  the  energetic  manufacturer  as  he  may  elsewhere  seek  in 
vain. 

These  facts  have  but  recently  reached  the  East — and  see 
with  what  avidity  men  of  capital  are  hastening  to  test  these 
boasted  resources.  And  still  the  field  is  open — still  the  coffers 
of  the  earth  are  full,  and  he  may  help  himself  who  will. 

The  poor  and  the  lowly  came  a  few  years  since,  but  now 
the  rich  and  the  lofty  flock  to  Iowa,  as  well  as  they. 
And,  thanks  to  the  enterprise  of  these,  the  colossal  wheel  of w 
manufacture  has  already  been  set  in  motion  in  Iowa.  It  re 
volves  as  yet  but  slowly,  and  its  reverberating  strokes  do  but 
send  forth,  as  yet,  prophetic  echoes  throughout  the  State,  that 
tell  what  may — what  can  and  will  be  done.  When  the  Giant 
Spirit  of  Human  Art  shall  have  chained  the  flow  of  Iowa's 
2 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

great  central  artery,  and  assumed  the  directing  of  its  course 
— when  the  Mississippi's  waves  shall  foam  and  lash  in  their 
impeded  progress  —  when  the  Missouri's  waters  shall  be 
darkened  by  the  shadows  and  the  smoke  of  mammoth  factories 
— and  when  the  tributary  streams  of  this  great  trio  shall  be 
made  to  join  in  this  work  of  grandeur  and  of  usefulness  — 
then  will  that  Giant  Spirit,  as  he  listens  to  the  ponderous 
humming  of  that  colossal  wheel,  whose  accelerated  revolu 
tions  will  then  keep  time  with  the  pulsations  of  Iowa's  ambi 
tious  heart,  find  a  genial  home  in  the  young,  and  promising^ 
and  vigorous  State.  There  is  in  this  picture  no  fiction — no 
visionary  anticipation  :  all  that  we  have  hinted  at,  and  more, 
will  be  realized.  It  requires  no  gift  of  prophecy  to  trace  out 
the  future  path  of  Iowa.  An  observing  eye — aided  by  a 
spirit  of  discrimination — need  but  take  the  past  for  a  prece 
dent — the  present  for  an  earnest — to  draw  a  vast  panorama 
of  prosperity,  such  as  our  Union  has  perhaps  never  witnessed, 
heretofore,  and  yet,  which  Iowa  will  not  fail  to  excel. 

To  the  law-loving  and  the  temperate  —  to  the  enterprising, 
the  vigorous,  the  ambitious  —  she  offers  a  home  and  a  field 
worthy  of  their  noblest  efforts.  Already  has  she  placed  the 
early  adventurer  on  a  throne  of  fortune,  thus  amply  rewarding 
his  courage.  At  this  day  she  points  to  still  loftier  thrones 
and  richer  diadems,  held  in  reserve  as  the  prizes  of  fearless 
energy  —  or  better  still,  throws  open  to  the  world  her  ex- 
haustless  stores  of  wealth,  and  seems  to  say,  "  Behold  your 
reward  !"  And  as  the  multitudinous  throngs  hasten  toward 
these  goals  of  promise — as  they  crowd  with  eager  steps,  and 
work  with  untiring  hands — they  find  that  far  from  becoming 
drained,  her  resources  deepen  and  increase  in  proportion  as 
they  take  from  them  —  not  merely  keeping  pace  with  their 
accumulating  wants,  but  ever  exceeding  them ;  it  is  even  as 
the  province  of  mind  —  the  realms  of  intellect — whose 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

boundaries  still  widen,  and  whose  sphere  continues  to  expand, 
the  further  they  are  explored. 

There  is  an  emigration  that  thins  the  old  and  crowded 
States  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard ;  there  is  an  immigration  that 
peoples  a  new  world,  and  darkens  the  mountain-slope  of 
fortune;  there  is  a  journeying  from  the  old  into  the  new,  of 
the  Pilgrims  of  Industry  and  of  Hope.  But  there  is  a 
mightier  emigration — a  vaster  pilgrimage — than  these.  It  is 
the  march,  onward  and  upward  into  the  Future,  of  Iowa  her 
self.  As  the  immigrant  mother  leads  her  sons  and  daughters 
into  the  undeveloped  paths  of  wealth — as  civilization  elevates 
a  race  out  of  the  sloughs  of  semi-barbarism — as  national  pros 
perity  exalts  a  land — or  as  science  raises  the  human  intellect 
from  darkness  into  dazzling  light — thus  Iowa,  with  rapid 
strides,  ascends  the  precipitous  sides  of  prosperity's  mountain- 
range,  bearing  her  sons  and  daughters  to  loftier,  and  still 
loftier  peaks,  and  revealing  to  their  gaze  still  wider  and  richer 
vistas.  And  the  summit  of  this  range  she  will  never  reach  ; 
for  her  onward  progress  cannot  be  stayed,  until  her  arterial 
streams  are  dry — until  the  agricultural  life-blood  in  her  veins 
has  ceased  to  flow,  until  her  great  metallic  heart  has  been 
emptied.  Upon  the  topmost  summit,  then,  Iowa  will  never 
stand,  for  through  countless  ages  yet  to  come,  her  progress — 
that  must  be  forever  onward — must  be  upward  also. 


AR? 

or  THE 
UNIVERSITY 


OF 


IOWA  AS  IT  IS. 


CHAPTEK  I. 

EARLY  HISTORY  AND  ACCESSION  OP  TERRITORY — ORGAN 
IZATION —  BOUNDARIES,   AREA,   ETC. 

FOR  centuries  past,  until  the  year  1830,  the  North 
western  Territory,  embracing  all  lands  west  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  of  which  Iowa  is  now  a  part,  was  in  the  undisputed 
possession  of  various  tribes  of  Indians ;  and  the  cultivated 
fields  of  the  open  prairie,  the  bluff-site  of  the  magnificent 
residence,  the  ground  upon  which  are  now  erected  our  halls 
of  justice  and  houses  of  worship,  was,  but  a  few  short  years 
since,  the  battle-fields  of  numerous  Indian  tribes,  contend 
ing  for  the  possession  of  this  beautiful  and  fertile  soil,  upon 
which  each  so  freely  shed  the  blood  of  their  contending 
foes.  The  hills,  valleys,  rivers,  and  prairies  of  Iowa,  have 
witnessed  the  most  bloody  conflicts  ever  fought  by  the 
savages  of  this  continent,  as  the  numerous  bone-strewn 
battle-fields  well  testify. 

The  territory  embraced  within  the  bounds  of  Iowa  has 
been  purchased  by  four  different  treaties.  The  first  was 
2*  (17) 


18  ORGANIZATION. 

made  in  1882  —  commonly  called  "  the  Black-Hawk  Pur 
chase;"  the  second  in  1836;  the  third  in  1837,  and  the 
fourth  and  last  in  1842. 

The  oldest  settlement  in  the  State  is  Dubuque;  which, 
!  as  a  trading-post,  is  identified  with  the  Frenchman  whose 
name  it  perpetuates.  At  about  the  same  period,  in  1832, 
Galena  was  a  village,  and  Fort  Madison  and  Bellevue 
military  posts.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1833,  several  com 
panies  of  whites  crossed  from  Illinois  into  Iowa  in  the 
vicinity  of  Burlington.  From  this  period  the  progress  and 
extension  of  settlements  have  been  rapid,  and  the  popu 
lation  has  increased  with  greater  rapidity  than  in  the  history 
of  previous  territories. 

In- 1834,  Congress  attached  this  Territory  to  that  of 
Michigan  for  temporary  jurisdiction,  and  two  large  counties 
—  Dubuque  and  Des  Moines  —  were  organized.  Their 
aggregate  population  in  1836  was  1053 ;  and  during  the 
same  year  Wisconsin  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory, 
and  exercised  jurisdiction  over  "  the  District  of  Iowa." 

The  "Territory  of  Iowa"  was  organized  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1838.  Robert  Lucas,  a  former  Governor  of  Ohio, 
was  Governor  and  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  of  the 
new  Territory.  During  that  year,  the  State  was  subdivided 
into  sixteen  counties,  and  contained  a  population  of  22,860. 

The  first  Legislature  held  in  Iowa  met  at  Burlington,  in 
the  fall  of  1837,  while  our  State  was  attached  to  Wiscon 
sin,  yet  subject  to  Michigan  in  judicial  matters. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1838,  Iowa  was  separated  from 
Wisconsin  by  Act  of  Congress,  passed  June  12th,  1838. 


BOUNDARIES,     AREA,     ETC,  19 

In  1839,  the  General  Assembly  located  the  Seat  of 
Government  on  the  Iowa  River,  and  called  the  place  the 
"City  of  Iowa." 

In  1843,  the  Territorial  Legislature  petitioned  Congress 
'for  authority  to  adopt  a  State  Constitution;  which  was 
granted  at  the  next  session;  and  on  the  7th  of  October, 
1841,  the  Convention  assembled  and  adopted  a  Constitution, 
which  was  not  approved  by  Congress.  A  second  Conven 
tion  was  held  in  1846,  the  limits  restricted,  an  amended 
Constitution  adopted;  this  was  submitted  to  Congress  and 
approved;  and  in  December,  1846,  the  "State  of  Iowa" 
was  admitted  and  christened  as  one  of  the  glorious  Con 
federacy. 

The  State  of  Iowa  is  situated  between  40°  30'  and  43°  30' 
north  latitude,  and  between  90°  20'  and  97°  40'  west  longi 
tude;  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Minnesota  Territory, 
east  by  the  Mississippi  River  (which  separates  it  from  Wis 
consin  and  Illinois),  south  by  Missouri,  and  west  by  the 
Missouri  River  (which  separates  it  from  Nebraska  Terri 
tory).  The  State  contains  an  area  of  56,000  square  miles ; 
being  upwards  of  200  miles  wide  from  north  to  south,  and 
upwards  of  300  long  from  east  to  west.  The  State  i:s 
divided  into  one  hundred  counties;  eighty-five  of  which 
have  been  surveyed,  and  seventy  regularly  organized. 


20  THE    CLIMATE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    CLIMATE. 

WE  have,  generally,  an  unbroken  winter  from  the  middle 
of  November  till  January,  when  we  are  almost  invariably 
visited  with  a  " January  thaw;"  after  which  the  weather 
is  generally  mild,  and  gradually  merges  into  spring.  We 
are  free  from  the  sudden  changes  of  New-England,  and 
from  the  long  drizzling  rains  and  foggy  weather  of  portions 
of  the  Middle  States.  Our  storms  are  from  the  east;  our 
showers  from  the  west. 

This  State  is  located  in  the  healthiest  latitude  of  our 
continent;  reaching  only  to  latitude  43°  30'  on  its  northern 
boundary.  Its  winters  are  comparatively  mild  and  plea 
sant,  and  its  summers  free  from  the  long  scorching  rays  of 
a  southern  sun  and  the  epidemics  so  common  in  such  cli 
mates.*  By  the  medical  journals,  Iowa  is  ranked  as 

*  Dr.  Updegraff,  a  correspondent  of  the  Ohio  Farmer,  thus 
alludes  to  our  climate,  &c. : 

"  Of  all  other  considerations  respecting  a  new  country,  the 
most  important  is  as  to  its  healthiness. 

"  In  this  respect,  Iowa  has  the  advantage  of  most  new  coun 
tries.  An  open  prairie  country,  almost  universally  rolling,  or 
even  hilly,  it  is  more  favorable  to  health  than  flat  prairie  or  level 
•woodland.  The  streams  are  mostly  fresh  running  water,  with 
sandy  or  gravel  beds.  The  scarcity  of  timber-land,  and  the 
annual  fires  that  pass  over  the  prairies,  prevent,  to  a  great  degree, 


THE     CLIMATE.  21 

second  only  in  point  of  health ;  and  no  doubt  it  will  be 
first,  when  she  has  a  settled  and  acclimated  population,  as 
free  from  toil,  privations,  and  exposure  as  other  states. 

One  of  the  peculiarities  of  this  climate  is  the  dryness 
of  its  summers  and  autumns.  A  drought  often  commences 
in  August,  which,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  showers 
towards  the  close  of  that  month,  continues,  with  little  inter 
ruption,  throughout  the  fall  season.  The  autumnal  months 
are  almost  invariably  clear,  warm,  and  dry.  The  immense 
mass  of  vegetation  with  which  this  fertile  soil  loads  itself 
during  the  summer  is  suddenly  withered,  and  the  whole 
earth  is  covered  with  combustible  materials.  This  is  espe 
cially  true  of  those  portions  where  grass  grows  from  two 
to  ten  feet  high,  and  is  exposed  to  sun  and  wind,  becoming 
thoroughly  dried.  A  single  spark  of  fire,  falling  upon  the 
prairie  at  such  a  time,  instantly  kindles  a  blaze  that  spreads 
on  every  side,  and  continues  its  destructive  course  as  long 
as  it  finds  fuel.  These  fires  sweep  along  with  great  power 
and  rapidity,  and  frequently  extend  across  a  wide  prairio 
and  advance  in  a  long  line.  No  sight  can  be  more  sublime 
than  a  stream  of  fire,  beheld  at  night,  several  miles  in 

the  decomposition  of  vegetable  matter;  which  is,  in  most  new 
countries,  the  great  source  of  disease.  With  some  local  excep 
tions,  there  does  not  seem  to  be  any  natural  reason  why  this  State, 
even  in  its  early  settlement,  should  not  enjoy  as  high  an  average 
of  healthiness  as  Ohio  now  does.  Such  I  believe  to  be  the  fact, 
after  making  proper  deductions  for  change  of  climate,  mode  of 
life,  exposure,  and  unusual  exertion.  To  observe  the  exertion 
and  exposure,  often  reckless  and  unnecessary,  to  which  most  new 
settlers  subject  themselves,  it  becomes  a  matter  of  surprise  that 
disease  and  mortality  are  not  much  more  usual  than  they  are." 


22  THESOIL. 

breadth,  advancing  across  the  plains,  leaving  behind  it  a 
background  of  dense  black  smoke,  throwing  before  it  a 
vivid  glare,  which  lights  up  the  whole  landscape  for  miles 
with  the  brilliancy  of  noonday.  The  progress  of  the  fire 
is  so  slow,  and  the  heat  so  intense,  that  every  combustible 
in  its  course  is  consumed.  The  roots  of  the  prairie-grass, 
and  several  species  of  flowers,  however,  by  some  peculiar 
adaptation  of  nature,  are  spared. 

A  narrow  strip  of  bare  ground,  or  a  beaten  road,  the 
width  of  a  common  wagon-track,  will  prevent  the  fire  from 
extending  beyond  it;  yet  careless,  thoughtless  farmers, 
sometimes  suffer  tall  grass  to  connect  their  fields  of  corn 
and  fences  with  the  wild  prairie,  and  forfeit  their  year's 
toil  as  a  penalty  for  their  slothfulness ! 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE    SOIL. 

IT  is  well  known  to  the  scientific  farmer,  that  the  land 
best  suited  to  wheat  and  most  small  grains,  and  in  which 
the  earthy,  saline,  and  organic  matters  are  distributed  in  the 
proportion  best  adapted  to  impart  fertility  and  durability,  is 
generally  a  soil  based  on  the  calcareous  and  magnesio-calca- 
reous  rocks.  This  condition  particularly  characterizes  the 
country  bordering  on  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries, 
between  the  41st  and  45th  degrees  of  latitude,  which  has  an 


THESOIL.  23 

average  width  of  20  to  30  miles  west  of  the  line  of  that 
river.  In  this  State,  it  includes  the  Dubuque  District,  the 
country  watered  by  the  Des  Moines,  and  the  two  lowas.  In 
Owen's  Geological  Report,  we  find  the  following : 

"  The  prairie  country,  based  on  rocks  belonging  to  the 
Devonian  and  carboniferous  systems,  extending  up  the  val 
ley  of  the  Bed  Cedar,  Iowa,  and  Des  Moines,  as  high  as  lati 
tude  42°  31',  presents  a  body  of  arable  land  which,  taken 
as  a  whole,  for  richness  and  organic  elements,  for  amount 
of  saline  matter,  and  due  admixture  of  earthy  silicates, 
affords  a  combination  that  belongs  only  to  the  most  fertile 
upland  plains.  Throughout  this  district  the  general  level- 
ness  of  the  surface,  interrupted  only  by  gentle  swells  and 
moderate  undulations,  offers  facilities  for  the  introduction 
of  all  those  aids  which  machinery  is  daily  adding  to  dimi 
nish  the  labor  of  cultivation,  and  render  easy  and  expedi 
tious  the  collection  of  an  abundant  harvest." 

Again,  in  speaking  of  the  physical  and  agricultural 
character  of  the  State,  bordering  on  the  Mississippi,  near 
the  foot  of  the  lower  rapids,  Owen  says : 

"  The  carboniferous  rocks  of  Iowa  occupy  a  region  of 
country  which,  taken  as  a  whole,  is  one  of  the  most  fertile 
in  the  United  States.  No  country  can  present  to  the  farmer 
greater  facilities  for  subduing,  in  a  short  time,  wild  land. 
Its  native  prairies  are  fields,  almost  ready  made  to  his 
hands.  Its  rich,  black-  soil,  scarcely  less  productive  than 
that  of  the  Cedar  Valley,  returns  him  reward  for  his  labor 
a  hundredfold.  The  only  drawback  to  its  productiveness 
is  that,  on  some  of  the  higher  grounds,  the  soil,  partaking 


24  THE     SOIL. 

of  the  mixed  character  common  to  drift-soils,  is  occasionally 
gravelly,  and  that,  here  and  there,  when  the  upper  mem 
bers  of  the  coal-measures  prevail,  it  becomes  somewhat  too 
siliceous. 

"  The  future  farms  of  Iowa,  large,  level,  and  unbroken 
by  stump  or  other  obstruction,  will  afford  an  excellent  field 
for  the  introduction  of  mowing-machines,  and  other  im 
proved  implements  calculated  to  save  the  labor  of  the  hus 
bandman,  and  which,  in  new  countries,  reclaimed  from  the 
forest,  can  scarcely  be  employed  until  the  first  generation 
shall  have  passed  away. 

"  After  passing  latitude  42°  30',  and  approaching  the 
southern  confines  of  the  Couteau  des  Prairies,  a  desolate, 
barren,  knobby  country  commences,  where  the  higher 
grounds  are  covered  with  gravel  and  erratic  masses,  sup 
porting  a  scanty  vegetation,  while  the  valleys  are  either 
wet  and  marshy,  or  filled  with  numerous  pools,  ponds,  and 
lakes,  the  borders  of  which  are  inhabited  by  flocks  of  sand 
hill  cranes,  which  fill  the  air  with  their  doleful  cries,  and 
where  the  eye  may  often  wander  in  every  direction  towards 
the  horizon  without  discovering  even  a  faint  outline  of 
distant  timber. 

"  This  description  of  country  prevails  for  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  degree  of  latitude,  and  between  three  and 
four  degrees  of  longitude ;  embracing  the  watershed,  where 
the  northern  branches  of  the  Red  Cedar  and  Iowa,  and  the 
eastern  branches  of  the  Des  Moines,  take  their  rise." 

"  The  drift-soils  west  of  the  Mississippi,  except  near  the 
northern  boundary  of  Iowa,  are  much  superior  to  the  drift- 


APPEARANCE     OF     THE    PRAIRIES.  25 

soils  of  the  interior  of  the  Chippewa  Land  District,  in  Wis 
consin;  the  materials  that  compose  them  being  not  only 
more  comminuted,  but  more  generally  mixed  with  argilla 
ceous,  saline,  and  calcareous  ingredients,  and  less  encum 
bered  by  erratic  blocks." 

More  full  and  minute  descriptions  of  the  soil  in  various 
localities  in  the  State  may  be  found  in  the  series  of  articles 
upoii  "  the  Counties  and  Towns  of  Iowa." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

GENERAL   APPEARANCE   OF   THE   PRAIRIES. 

THE  novelty  of  the  prairie  country  is  striking,  and  never 
fails  to  cause  an  exclamation  of  surprise  from  those  who 
have  lived  amid  the  forests  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  or  along 
the  wooded  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  or  in  sight  of  the  rocky 
barriers  of  the  Allegheny  ridge.  The  extent  of  the  pros 
pect  is  exhilarating.  The  outline  of  the  landscape  is  un 
dulating  and  graceful.  The  verdure  and  the  flowers  are 
beautiful;  and  the  absence  of  shade,  and  consequent 
appearance  of  a  profusion  of  light,  produces  a  gaiety  which 
animates  every  beholder. 

These   plains,  although   preserving   a  general  level  in 

respect  to  the  whole  country,  are  yet,  in  themselves,  noi 

flat,  but  exhibit  a  gracefully  waving  surface,  swelling  and 

sinking  with  easy,  graceful  slopes,  and  full,  rounded  outlines, 

3 


26  APPEARANCE     OF    THE     PRAIRIES. 

equally  avoiding  the  unmeaning  horizontal  surface,  and  the 
interruption  of  abrupt  or  angular  elevations. 

The  attraction  of  the  prairie  consists  in  its  extent,  its 
carpet  of  verdure  and  flowers,  its  undulating  surface,  its 
groves,  and  the  fringe  of  timber  by  which  it  is  surrouuded. 
Of  all  of  these,  the  latter  is  the  most  expressive  feature. 
It  is  that  which  gives  character  to  the  landscape,  which 
imparts  the  shape,  and  marks  the  boundary  of  the  plain. 
If  the  prairie  be  small,  its  greatest  beauty  consists  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  surrounding  margin  of  woodland,  which 
resembles  the  shore  of  a  lake  indented  with  deep  vistas, 
like  bays  and  inlets,  and  throwing  out  long  points,  like 
capes  and  headlands. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year,  when  the  young  grass  has 
just  covered  the  ground  with  a  carpet  of  delicate  green, 
and  especially  if  the  sun  is  rising  from  behind  a  distant 
swell  of  the  plain  and  glittering  upon  tho  dewdrops,  no 
scene  can  be  more  lovely  to  the  eye.  The  groves,  or  clus 
ters  of  timber,  are  particularly  attractive  at  this  season  of 
the  year.  The  rich  undergrowth  is  in  full  bloom.  The 
rosewood,  dogwood,  crab-apple,  wild  plum,  the  cherry,  and 
the  wild  rose  are  all  abundant,  and  in  many  portions  of  the 
State  the  grape-vine  abounds.  The  variety  of  wild  fruit 
and  flowering  shrubs  is  so  great,  and  such  the  profusion 
of  the  blossoms  with  which  they  are  bowed  down,  that  the 
eye  is  regaled  almost  to  satiety. 

The  gaiety  of  the  prairie,  its  embellishments,  and  the 
absence  of  the  gloom  and  savage  wildness  of  the  forest, 
all  contribute  to  dispel  the  feeling  of  loneliness  which  usu- 


APPEARANCE     OF     THE     PRAIRIES.          27 

ally  creeps  over  the  mind  of  the  solitary  traveller  in  the 
wilderness.  Though  he  may  not  see  a  house  or  a  human 
being,  and  is  conscious  that  he  is  far  from  the  habitations 
of  men,  the  traveller  upon  the  prairie  can  scarcely  divesfc 
himself  of  the  idea  that  he  is  travelling  through  scenes  em 
bellished  by  the  hand  of  art.  The  flowers,  so  fragile,  so 
delicate,  and  so  ornamental,  seem  to  have  been  tastefully 
disposed  to  adorn  the  scene. 

In  the  summer,  the  prairie  is  covered  with  long,  coarse 
grass,  which  soon  assumes  a  golden  hue,  and  waves  in  the 
wind  like  a  fully  ripe  harvest.  The  prairie-grass  never 
attains  its  highest  growth  in  the  richest  soil ;  but  in  low, 
wet,  or  marshy  land,  where  the  substratum  of  clay  lies 
near  the  surface,  the  centre  or  main  stem  of  the  grass  — 
that  which  bears  the  seed — shoots  up  to  the  height  of  eight 
and  ten  feet,  throwing  out  long,  coarse  leaves  or  blades. 
But  on  the  rich,  undulating  prairies,  the  grass  is  finer,  with 
less  of  stalk  and  a  greater  profusion  of  leaves.  The  roots 
spread  and  interweave,  forming  a  compact,  even  sod,  and 
the  blades  expand  into  a  close,  thick  grass,  which  is  seldom 
more  than  eighteen  inches  high,  until  late  in  the  season, 
when  the  seed-bearing  stem  shoots  up.  The  first  coat  is 
mingled  with  small  flowers  —  the  violet,  the  bloom  of  the 
wild  strawberry,  and  various  others,  of  the  most  minute 
and  delicate  texture.  As  the  grass  increases  in  height, 
these  smaller  flowers  disappear,  and  others,  taller  and  more 
gaudy,  display  their  brilliant  colors  upon  the  green  surface ; 
and  still  later,  a  larger  and  coarser  succession  arises  with 
the  rising  tide  of  verdure.  It  is  impossible  to  conceive  a 


28  IOWASCENERY. 

more  infinite  diversity,  or  a  richer  profusion  of  hues,  "  from 
grave  to  gay/'  than  graces  the  beautiful  carpet  of  green 
throughout  the  entire  season  of  summer. 

When  the  prairie  is  bare,  it  is  easy  to  distinguish  the 
rich  from  the  poorer  lands,  by  the  small  hillocks  which  are 
scattered  over  them,  and  which  are  most  abundant  where 
the  soil  is  least  productive.  They  are  from  a  few  inches  to 
two  or  three  feet  in  height,  and  only  exist  where  the  clay 
lies  near  the  surface;  as  such  mounds  composed  of  rich 
mould  would  soon  crumble  and  become  level.  These,  by 
some,  are  said  to  be  the  work  of  the  goplior  —  a  small 
quadruped;  by  others,  are  thought  to  be  thrown  up  by 
craw-fish  ;  which  is  doubtless  true  of  wet  situations ;  while 
those  in  drier  portions  are  attributed  to  colonies  of  ants  : 
each  class  belonging,  however,  to  the  clay  party,  and  working 
only  in  poor  soil. 


CHAPTER   V. 

IOWA    SCENERY — THE   BLUFFS,    ETC. 

RESPECTING  the  scenery  of  Iowa,  Owen,  in  his  Geolo 
gical  Report  to  Congress,  pp.  64,  65,  and  66,  says : 

"  The  scenery  on  the  Rhine,  with  its  castellated  heights, 
has  furnished  many  of  the  most  favorite  subjects  for  the 
artist's  pencil,  and  been  the  admiration  of  European  travel 
lers  for  centuries.  Yet  it  is  doubtful  whether,  in  actual 
beauty  of  landscape,  it  is  not  equalled  by  that  of  some  of 


IOWA     SCENERY.  29 

the  streams  that  water  this  region  of  the  Far  West.  It  is 
certain  that,  though  the  rock  formations  essentially  differ, 
Nature  has  here  fashioned,  on  an  extensive  scale,  and  in 
advance  of  all  civilization,  remarkable  and  curious  counter 
parts  to  the  artificial  landscape  which  has  given  celebrity 
to  that  part  of  the  European  Continent. 

"The  features  of  the  scenery  are  not,  indeed,  of  the 
loftiest  and  most  impressive  character  —  such  as  one  might 
expect  to  witness  on  approaching  the  source  of  one  of  the 
two  largest  rivers  on  the  globe.  There  are  no  elevated 
peaks,  rising  in  majestic  grandeur;  no  mountain  torrents, 
shrouded  in  foam,  and  chafing  in  their  rocky  channels ;  no 
deep  and  narrow  valleys,  hemmed  in  on  every  side,  and 
forming,  as  it  were,  a  little  world  of  their  own ;  no  narrow 
and  precipitous  passes,  winding  through  circuitous  defiles ; 
no  cavernous  gorges,  giving  exit  to  pent-up  waters ;  no  con 
torted  and  twisted  strata,  affording  evidence  of  gigantic 
and  violent  throes.  But  the  features  of  the  scene,  though 
less  grave  and  bold  than  those  of  mountainous  regions,  are 
jet  impressive  and  strongly  marked.  We  find  the  luxuriant 
sward,  clothing  the  hill-slope  even  down  to  the  water's  edge. 
We  have  the  steep  cliff,  shooting  up  through  its  mural  es 
carpments.  We  have  the  stream,  clear  as  crystal,  now 
quiet,  and  smooth,  and  glassy,  then  rufiled  by  a  temporary 
rapid ;  or,  when  a  terrace  of  rock  abruptly  crosses  it,  broken 
up  into  a  small,  romantic  cascade.  We  have  clumps  of 
trees,  disposed  with  an  effect  that  might  baffle  the  landscape 
gardener ;  now  crowning  the  grassy  height,  now  dotting 
the  green  slope  with  partial  and  isolated  shade.  From  the 
3* 


30  IOW  A    SCENERY. 

hill-tops,  the  intervening  valleys  wear  the  aspect  of  culti 
vated  meadows  and  rich  pasture-grounds,  irrigated  by  fre 
quent  rivulets,  that  wend  their  way  through  fields  of  wild 
hay  fringed  with  flourishing  willows.  Here  and  there, 
occupying  its  nook  on  the  bank  of  the  stream,  at  some 
favorable  spot,  occurs  the  solitary  wigwam,  with  its  scanty 
appurtenances.  On  the  summit-level  spreads  the  wide 
prairie,  decked  with  flowers  of  the  gayest  hue;  its  long, 
undulating  waves,  stretching  away  till  sky  and  meadow 
mingle  in  the  distant  horizon.  The  whole  combination 
suggests  the  idea,  not  of  an  aboriginal  wilderness  (so  re 
cently),  inhabited  by  savage  tribes,  but  of  a  country  lately 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  suddenly  deserted  by 
its  inhabitants  —  their  dwellings,  indeed,  gone,  but  the 
castle-homes  of  their  chieftains  only  partially  destroyed, 
and  showing,  in  ruins,  on  the  rocky  summits  around.  This 
latter  feature,  especially,  aids  the  delusion ;  for  the  peculiar 
aspect  of  the  exposed  limestone,  and  its  manner  of  wea 
thering,  cause  it  to  assume  a  semblance  somewhat  fantastic, 
indeed,  but  yet  wonderfully  close  and  faithful  to  the  dila 
pidated  wall,  with  its  crowning  parapet,  and  its  projecting 
buttresses,  and  its  flanking  towers,  and  even  the  lesser 
details  that  mark  the  fortress  of  the  olden  time." 

a  The  rural  beauty  of  this  portion  of  Iowa  can  hardly 
be  surpassed.  Undulating  prairies,  interspersed  with  open 
groves  of  timber,  and  watered  with  pebbly  or  rocky-bedded 
streams,  pure  and  transparent;  hills  of  moderate  height 
and  gentle  slope;  here  and  there,  especially  towards  the 
heads  of  streams,  small  lakes,  as  clear  as  the  rivers,  some 


OFTHt 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


THE    BLUFFS.  31 

skirted  with  timber,  some  with  banks  formed  by  the  green 
sward  of  the  open  prairie.  These  are  the  ordinary  features 
of  the  pastoral  landscape/' 

In  a  few  instances,  the  hills  or  bluffs  along  the  Missis- 
ippi  rise  boldly  from  the  water's  edge,  or  push  out  their 
steep  promontories,  so  as  to  change  the  direction  of  the 
river ;  but  more  generally,  on  either  bank  of  the  river,  we 
see  a  series  of  graceful  slopes,  swelling  and  sinking  as  far 
as  the  eye  can  reach.  The  prairie,  for  the  most  part  ex 
tending  to  the  water's  edge,  renders  the  scenery  truly  beau 
tiful.  Imagine  a  stream  a  mile  in  width,  whose  waters  are 
as  transparent  as  those  of  the  mountain  spring,  flowing 
over  beds  of  rock  and  gravel ;  fancy  the  prairie  commencing 
at  the  water's  edge — a  natural  meadow  of  deep-green  grass 
and  beautiful  and  fragrant  flowers,  rising  with  a  gentle 
slope  for  miles,  so  that,  in  the  vast  panorama,  thousands 
of  acres  are  exposed  to  the  eye.  The  prospect  is  bounded 
by  a  range  of  low  hills,  which  sometimes  approach  the 
river,  and  again  recede,  and  whose  summits,  which  are 
seen  gently  waving  along  the  horizon,  form  the  level  of  the 
adjacent  country.  Sometimes  the  woodland  extends  along 
this  river  for  miles  continuously;  again,  it  stretches  in  a 
wide  belt  far  off  into  the  country,  marking  the  course  of 
some  tributary  streams ;  and  sometimes,  in  vast  groves, 
several  miles  in  extent,  standing  alone,  like  islands  in  this 
wilderness  of  grass  and  flowers. 


32       RIVERS     AND     THEIR     TRIBUTARIES. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

RIVERS   AND   THEIR   TRIBUTARIES. 

No  State  in  the  Union  is  more  bountifully  supplied  with 
water  than  Iowa;  being  bounded  on  the  east  by  one  of  the 
finest  rivers  in  the  world  —  the  Mississippi,  and  on  the 
west  by  the  Missouri ;  the  interior  of  the  State  being  tra 
versed  in  every  direction  by  noble,  and  in  many  cases  navi 
gable,  streams;  many  of  them  running  parallel  to  each 
other,  from  twelve  to  twenty  miles  apart,  skirted  with 
timber  of  from  one  to  five  miles  in  width.  Our  rivers  have 
not  the  rapidity  of  the  New-England  streams,  nor  the  depth 
and  sluggishness  of  those  of  the  South ;  but  are  clear,  fresh, 
and  healthy,  of  gentle  current,  and  capable  of  furnishing 
water-power  for  all  purposes. 

The  rivers  that  are  directly  tributary  to  the  Mississippi 
are  the  Upper  Iowa,  Turkey,  Maquoketa,  Wapsipinnicon, 
Cedar,  Iowa,  Fox,  Checaque  (commonly  called  Skunk), 
and  the  Des  Moines.  Those  running  into  the  Missouri  are 
Floyd's,  Little  Sioux,  Inyan  Yankee,  Soldier,  Boyer,  Nish- 
nabotna,  Big  Tarkeo,  and  Nodaway. 

Some  of  these  streams  are  navigable  for  a  great  distance, 
and  the  day  is  drawing  nigh  when  the  quiet  of  their  banks 
shall  be  broken,  and  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  heavily-laden 
steamer  reverberate  from  shore  to  shore — when  many  of 
these  streams  shall  have  become  thoroughfares  for  the 


TIMBER-LANDS.  33 

transportation  of  the  rich  productions  of  this  most  fertile 
and  most  prosperous  State.  "  The  untold  powers  of  some 
of  these  waters  will  soon  be  utilized  for  mechanical  pur- 
poses ;  and  but  a  short  time  will  elapse  ere  the  thunder  and 
clatter  of  the  ten  thousand  wheels  of  machinery  will  break 
upon  that  solitude  which  now  echoes  only  to  the  harvest- 
song  or  the  notes  of  the  sweet  warblers  of  the  forest.  Ex 
tensive  works  are  already  commenced  upon  more  than 
one  of  these  rivers  which  will  stamp  our  greatness  and  con 
vince  the  world  that  l  progress '  is  our  watchword." 

Besides  those  mentioned,  are  their  tributaries  —  the 
creeks,  branches,  or  rivulets,  penetrating  every  portion  of 
the  interior  of  the  State ;  springs  of  clear,  cold  water,  also 
abound  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  [Particular  reference  is 
made  to  the  sites  for  water-power  in  different  locations, 
in  the  letters  from  county-seats,  in  another  portion  of  this 
work.] 


CHAPTER   VII. 

TIMBER-LANDS. 

To  the  farmer  from  the  forests  of  any  of  the  Middle  or 
Eastern  States,  who  has  spent  years  of  most  laborious  and 
painful  drudgery  in  "  clearing  up  "  his  land,  and  with  whom 
the  most  desirable  object  has  been  the  destruction  of  timber, 
the  scarcity  of  it  here  seems  an  evil  without  a  remedy. 
But  we  contend  that  that  which  appears  to  the  superficial 


34  TIMBER-LANDS. 

observer  as  a  defect,  is,  in  truth,  one  of  the  greatest  sources 
of  prosperity  in  our  country. 

Let  us  contrast  life  in  "the  wooden  country"  with 
a  life  here  upon  the  wide  prairie.  The  labor  of  clearing 
woodland  is  the  most  arduous  task  to  which  the  farmer  is 
subjected;  and  frequently  the  new-comer  from  the  East, 
who  settles  in  the  forests  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  consumes 
years  of  painful  toil,  and  wastes  the  prime  of  life,  before 
he  sees  the  fruits  of  his  labor.  Besides,  the  industry  and 
trade  of  the  country  are  not  enhanced,  because  those  who 
are  clearing  new  land  cannot  for  years  produce  anything 
for  market.  Again,  the  clearing  of  new  lands  suddenly 
exposes  the  vegetable  deposits  of  ages  to  the  glaring  beams 
of  the  sun ;  which,  with  the  thousands  of  fallen  and  rotting 
trees,  fill  the  air  with  noxious  exhalations,  producing  dis 
eases  of  the  most  malignant  character. 

Quite  different  is  the  case  in  our  open  prairie  country. 
The  settler  may  always  select  upon  the  prairie,  land  as  fer 
tile  as  the  richest  river-bottoms;  and,  by  settling  on  the 
edge  of  the  timber,  combine  every  advantage  afforded  by 
the  latter.  The  land  being  already  cleared,  he  has  only  to 
enclose  and  break  it.  The  sod  (described  in  another  sec 
tion)  is  turned  over  with  a  heavy  plow  and  strong  team. 
The  corn  is  dropped  in  the  furrows,  covered  with  a  hoe, 
and  thus  left  to  be  gathered.  Several  other  modes  of  corn- 
planting  may  be  worthy  of  mention  ;  one  of  which  is  per 
formed  by  striking  an  axe  into  the  sod  and  dropping  the 
corn  into  the  crevice ;  another,  by  dropping  the  corn  in 
every  fourth  row  in  plowing,  which  is  covered  by  the 


TIMBER-LANDS.  85 

plowing  of  the  fifth.  Thus,  while  the  overturned  sod  is 
undergoing  decomposition,  and  becoming  mellow  by  expos 
ing  the  fibrous  roots  to  the  sun,  it  is  also  affording  nourish 
ment  to  the  growing  corn.  Neither  the  yield  nor  the  grain 
is  very  good  the  first  season ;  but  sufficient  to  reward  amply 
the  labor  of  planting  and  gathering.  By  the  ensuing 
spring,  the  roots  of  the  wild  grass  are  completely  rotted, 
and  the  rich,  light  mould,  unencumbered  with  rocks  and 
stumps,  is  fit  for  all  the  purposes  of  husbandry.  The  plow, 
running  easily  through  the  rich,  loamy  soil,  can  be  'as  well 
managed  by  a  half-grown  boy  as  the  strongest  plowman. 

Thus,  it  is  seen,  the  difference  in  the  greater  facility  of 
working  prairie-lands,  the  saving  in  the  wear  of  farming 
utensils,  the  economy  of  time,  and  greater  degree  of  cer 
tainty  in  the  farmer's  calculations,  and  the  enjoyment  of 
health,  more  than  outweigh  any  inconvenience  which  can 
possibly  be  experienced  in  this  country  from  the  want  of 
timber,  even  under  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances. 

"  According  to  the  most  reliable  estimates,  about  one- 
tenth  of  Iowa  is  timber-land.  Of  this  a  considerable  por 
tion  is  of  inferior  quality;  and  the  supply  of  the  finest 
growth  of  timber,  such  as  we  find  in  Ohio,  is  comparatively 
small.  Yet  along  the  streams  there  are  thousands  of  acres 
covered  with  an  excellent  growth  of  oak,  walnut,  ash,  linn 
maple,  hickory,  elm,  and  cotton-wood.  These  varieties 
differ  in  different  localities.  Along  the  Iowa  and  Cedar 
Rivers,  there  is  a  large  amount  of  oak  of  all  varieties ;  and 
the  valleys  of  the  Des  Moines  are  abundantly  supplied  with 
walnut.  Hickory  and  walnut  are  abundant  on  the  Iowa, 


36  TIMBER-LANDS. 

Skunk,  Cedar,  and  other  rivers.  Besides  the  full-grown 
timber,  there  are  thousands  of  acres  of  a  vigorous  young- 
growth,  that  has  at  last  conquered  the  prairie  fires,  and  is 
now  rapidly  coming  to  maturity.  In  addition  to  these, 
there  is  a  vast  amount  of  locust  being  cultivated.  This 
grows  here  with  a  rapidity  that  is  seldom  equalled  else 
where.  I  have  seen  trees  at  the  age  of  ten  years  that 
would  make  eight  posts  of  sufficient  size  for  fencing.  Thus 
there  is  an  abundance  of  timber  for  present  purposes,  and 
it  is  believed  by  those  best  informed,  that,  notwithstanding 
the  constant  demand,  the  supply  is  every  day  increasing, 
both  from  natural  and  cultivated  sources. 

"The  unequal  distribution  of  the  wooded  land  is  a 
greater  objection  than  its  actual  quantity.  Sometimes  the 
prairies  are  from  twenty  to  forty  miles  in  width,  thus 
making  timber  inconvenient.  These,  however,  are  rare 
cases,  and,  at  the  worst,  are  bearable,  compared  to  the  life 
long  drudgery  of  woodland  pioneering. 

"  The  large  amount  of  coal  that  is  now  discovered  in  the 
various  sections  of  the  State  obviate,  to  a  great  extent,  the 
limited  supply  of  timber-land.  The  rapidly-increasing  fa 
cilities  for  inter-communication  are  also  fast  equalizing  the 
advantages  of  different  localities.  It  is  not  the  economy 
of  nature  that  any  one  spot  should  monopolize  all  natural 
advantages;  but  some  portions  of  this  appear  to  combine 
as  many  as  are  often  found  harmonizing." 

The  portion  of  Iowa  most  deficient  in  timber  is  north  of 
latitude  42° — especially  on  dividing  ridges.  North  of  this 
latitude,  between  the  head-waters  of  Three  and  Grand 


GEOLOGY    OP    IOWA.  37 

Rivers,  there  are  distances  of  ten  and  fifteen  miles  without, 
any  timber ;  while  between  the  waters  of  Grand  River,  the 
Nodaway,  and  the  Nishnabotna,  the  open  prairie  is  often 
twenty  miles  wide,  without  a  bush  to  be  seen  higher  than 
the  wild  indigo  and  the  compass  plant. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

GEOLOGY   OF   IOWA. 

IN  preparing  the  following,  we  depend  principally  upon 
"  Owen's  Geological  Report"  of  a  survey  made  under  his 
direction,  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  by  authority  of 
Congress. 

Minerals. 

The  principal  minerals  of  Iowa  are  lead,  iron,  and  cop 
per.  The  shipment  of  lead  from  Dubuque,  from  the  21st 
of  March  to  the  1st  of  December,  1854,  inclusive,  amounted 
to  43,543  pigs,  weighing  3,069,640  Ibs. ;  valued,  at  the 
mines,  $178,830,20.  Lead  has  been  found  at  various 
other  places  near  the  base  of  a  bluff  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Mississippi,  some  ten  or  fifteen  miles  above  Turkey 
River,  near  the  French  village.  From  seven  to  ten  thou 
sand  pounds  of  lead  ore  were  taken  from  openings  in  the 
rocks  by  Dr.  Andrus.  More  or  less  "  Galena  "  is  found 
here  in  all  the  principal  openings  for  the  distance  of  a  mile. 
Between  the  Yellow  and  Upper  Iowa  Rivers,  excavations 
4 


88  GEOLOGY     OF     IOW  A. 

are  visible  where  the  Indians  have  dug  for  lead  ore.  On 
the  Upper  Iowa,  also,  ore  has  been  discovered  in  several 
places  in  considerable  quantities.  In  the  Winnebago  Re 
serve,  not  far  from  the  Iowa  River,  and  a  few  miles  north 
west  of  the  town  of  Lansing,  lead  ore  has  been  found  in 
small  quantities,  chiefly  in  pockets  and  cavities. 

Copper  ore  has  been  discovered  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  State,  but  not  sufficiently  productive  to  justify  the 
sinking  of  shafts.  Iron  ore  is  found  in  various  places  in 
the  Des  Monies  Valley;  Owen  thought,  in  some  locations, 
of  sufficient  productiveness  to  justify  smelting.  There  are; 
as  yet,  no  works  for  working  raw  iron  ore  in  the  State. 

Coal-fields  of  Iowa. 

Last  summer,  the  following  article  appeared  in  the  Des 
Moines  Valley  Whig.  Having  compared  it  with  other 
authority,  we  find  it  quite  correct,  and  insert  it  entire,  with 
additional  data,  gathered  elsewhere,  as  a  condensed  view 
of  Iowa  coal  measures,  &c. : 

"  The  Des  Moines  River  runs  centrally  and  diagonally 
through  what  is  geologically  called  the  Carboniferous  Sys 
tem  of  Iowa.  This  system  is  called  carboniferous,  because 
it  is  that  particular  division  of  rocks  in  which  the  '  coal 
measures '  are  found,  and  because  it  contains  that  series  of 
rocks,  of  a  comparatively  modern  date,  which,  in  their 
composition,  are  so  largely  carbon. 

"  The  physical  and  pastoral  features  of  the  Des  Moines 
Valley  are  thus  given  in  Owen's  Geological  Survey  : 

"  { The  carboniferous  rocks  of  Iowa  occupy  a  region  of 


GEOLO-GY    OF    IOWA.  39 

country  which,  taken  as  a  whole,  is  one  of  the  most  fer 
tile  in  the  United  States.  No  country  can  present  to  the 
farmer  greater  facilities  for  subduing,  in  a  short  time,  wild 
land. 

" '  For  centuries  the  succession  of  natural  crops  of  grass, 
untouched  by  the  scythe,  and  but  very  partially  kept  down 
by  the  pasturage  of  buffalo  and  other  herbivorous  animals, 
have  accumulated  organic  matter  on  the  surface-soil  to  such 
an  extent  that  a  large  succession,  even  of  exhausting  crops, 
will  not  materially  impoverish  the  land. 

" '  The  rural  beauty  of  this  portion  of  Iowa  can  hardly 
be  surpassed.  Undulating  prairies,  interspersed  with  open 
groves  of  timber,  and  watered  by  pebbly  or  rocky-bedded 
streams,  pure  and  transparent;  hills  of  moderate  height 
and  gentle  slope ;  here  and  there,  especially  towards  the 
heads  of  the  streams,  small  lakes,  as  clear  as  the  rivers, 
some  skirted  with  timber,  some  with  banks  formed  by  the 
greensward  of  the  open  prairie;  these  are  the  ordinary 
features  of  the  pastoral  landscape/  (Report,  p.  100.) 

"  The  principal  minerals  to  be  noticed  in  this  paper  are 
coal,  hydraulic  limestone,  quartzite,  clays,  common  or 
mountain  limestone,  marble,  iron  ore,  and  gypsum. 

"Coal 

"  The  Iowa  Coal-field  embraces  an  area  of  about  25,000 
square  miles.  A  very  good  idea  of  its  locality  may  be 
obtained  by  taking  a  map  and  drawing  a  line,  commencing 
near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  State,  proceeding  up  the 
Nishnabotna ;  thence  to  Lake  Boyer ;  thence,  by  the  heads 


40 


GEOLOGY    OF    IOWA. 


of  the  Three  Rivers,  northeast,  to  the  Des  Moincs,  cross 
ing  it  six  miles  above  Fort  Dodge;  thence  southeast, 
through  Tama  and  Iowa  Counties,  to  the  east  part  of 
Washington  County;  thence  nearly  south,  through  the 
west  part  of  Henry  and  Lee  Counties,  to  the  Des  Homes 
River,  near  St.  Francisville.  It  is  nearly  in  the  shape  of 
a  half  ellipse,  cut  by  the  shortest  diameter.  The  width  of 
it  east  and  west  is  nearly  200  miles ;  while  in  a  north  and 
south  direction,  the  distance  is  140  miles.  The  Des 
Moines  River  traverses,  in  a  southeast  direction,  about  250 
miles. 

"  The  accompanying  table  has,  with  much  care  and  some 
labor,  been  compiled  from  Owen's  Report,  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  a  view  of  the  thickness  of  the  coal  veins  as  they 
show  themselves  in  the  Valley  proper,  and  in  the  banks  of 
creeks  near  by : 

K '  Tabular  View  of  the  Coal  Beds  in  the  Des  Moines  Valley. 


Counties. 

Range. 

Section. 

Veins. 

General  Remarks. 

Lee    

N. 

~66~ 
67 
68 
68 
68 
69 
69 
70 
70 
72 
73 
74 
74 
74 

W. 

~9~ 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8&9 
9 
11 
12 
13 
15 
15 
17 
17 

23 

36 
24 
34 
25-26 
32 
25 
3 
22 

20 
19-30 
6 
32 

Ft. 

1 

3 
4 

4 
2 
2 

1 
4 

2 

3 

4 
3 

2 

in. 
6 
6 

6 

Quality  poor. 
Quality  good. 
Night's  Bank,  good. 
Regular  4  to  5  feet. 
Slaughter's  Bank. 
On  Bear  Creek. 
Gillis'  s  Bank. 
Near  Portland. 
2  seams,  2  feet  each. 
5  feet  higher,  18  in. 
Not  given. 
Quality  tolerable. 

Clark,  Mo  
Van  Buren...... 

Wapello  

it 
Mahaska  

M 
II 

GEOLOGY     OF    IOWA. 


41 


Counties. 

RANGE. 

Section 

Veins. 

General  Remarks. 

Marion  

N. 

^74~ 
74 
74 
74 
74 
75 
76 
76 
78 
78 
81 
83 

W. 

"is" 

18 
18 
18 
18 
20 
19 
19 
23 
24 
25 
26 

2 

12 
16 
30 
14 
3 
14-23 
11 
23 
4 

5 

Ft. 

2 

8 
5 

2 
8 

4 

2 

In. 

Right  bank  Cedar. 

Regular  4  to  6  feet. 
2J  feet  poor. 
White  br'st  ex. 
«         «< 

Not  given. 

n         « 

Regular  2  to  3  feet. 
2  to  3  feet  inferior. 
Not  given. 

Polk  

ii 
Boone  

« 

NOTE. — Last  bed  mentioned  in  latitude  42°  30r  north.' 
"  The  foregoing  table  does  not  include  the  thinnest  veins, 
nor  half  the  localities  where  the  thick  ones  crop  out;  but 
one  can  get  a  very  correct  view  of  the  thickness  of  the 
best  seams  up  along  the  Valley.  There  are  undoubtedly 
outcrops  where  the  thickness  is  much  greater  than  in  any 
of  the  places  mentioned.  But  these  will  be  found  to  be 
the  centre  or  side  of  a  basin  which,  on  being  worked,  will 
not  extend  far.  A  basin  of  15  feet  of  thickness  has  been 
found  in  a  bank  opposite  Farmington.  Where  the  outcrops 
are  more  than  four  or  five  feet,  they  must  be  suspected  as 
being  basins,  unless  in  the  cut  of  a  stream  at  some  distance 
the  vein  is  ascertained  to  have  the  same  thickness.  Owen 
says  there  is  no  vein  of  more  than  from  four  to  five  feet 
in  Iowa.  (Report,  p.  20.) 

'*  The  table  shows  outcrops  are  far  more  numerous  in 
some  localities  than  in  others.  In  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  river,  where  the  limestones,  which  lie  below  the 

coal,  make  their  appearance,  the  coal  strata  are   usually 
4* 


42  GEOLOGY     OF    IOWA. 

wanting.  This  is  the  case  at  Bonaparte,  Bentonsport,  Ke- 
osauqua  and  Ottumwa.  But  in  these  the  coal  strata  may 
be,  and  actually  are,  found  in  creeks  at  no  great  distance 
from  the  river;  sometimes,  even  upon  the  bluffs. 

"  The  southeast  and  northwest  parts  of  Van  Buren  County, 
the  northeast  part  of  Davis,  the  central  part  of  Wapello, 
the  southern  part  of  Mahaska,  and  the  southeastern  and 
central  parts  of  Marion,  are  rich  in  coal.  But  other  por 
tions  of  the  same  counties  are  not  wanting.  So  far  as  can 
be  learned  from  the  table,  and  so  far  as  the  observation  and 
knowledge  of  the  writer  extends,  the  heaviest  beds  are  usu 
ally  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  The  best  beds  are  also 
there.  Some  of  these  are  also  on  the  White  Breast, 
Cedar,  and  Soap  Creeks.  The  principal  exception  to  this 
rule  is  in  the  southeast  part  of  Van  Buren  County.  Here 
it  exists  in  great  abundance  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  It 
is  equal  in  quality  to  any  found  below  Marion  County. 
Two  veins  are  worked  to  considerable  extent  in  connection; 
the  two  afford  from  4  J  to  5£  feet.  On  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  it  is  said  the  two  are  separated  by  a  vein  of  fire-clay, 
which  thins  out,  and  the  coal  veins  converge  as  they  recede 
from  the  river.  These  veins  are  shown  in  the  cuts  made 
by  the  creeks  for  miles  in  distance  to  the  west.  During 
the  year  ending  with  the  current  June,  more  than  100,000 
bushels  have  been  taken  from  three  banks  near  Farming- 
ton,  two  of  which  are  east  of  the  river.  Some  of  this  has 
been  conveyed  by  blacksmiths  the  distance  of  75  miles  into 
the  State  of  Missouri.  The  greater  part  of  it  has  been 
transported  to  different  places  by  wagons. 


GEOLOGY     OF     IOWA.  43 

"The  average  value  of  it  at  the  bank  is  61  cents  per 
bushel.  The  value  at  the  Mississippi,  a  distance  of  30 
miles,  is  18  to  20  cents  per  bushel.  Whenever  the  banks 
shall  be  well  opened,  and  there  are  ready  and  convenient 
means  of  carriage,  so  that  colliers  can  find  regular  employment, 
coal  can  be  delivered  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  at  a 
cost  of  6  or  7  cents  per  bushel,  and  afford  a  better  profit  than 
at  present.  This  is  upon  the  supposition  that  it  can  be  con 
veyed  upon  a  railroad  car  here  as  cheap  as  in  Kentucky,  where 
the  cost  of  transportation  is  one  cent  per  bushel  per  100  miles. 
And  as  to  the  amount  of  coal  the  Valley  can  supply,  it  is  easy 
to  ascertain  it.  Allowing  a  bushel  to  the  cubic  foot,  one 
acre,  with  a  two-feet  vein,  will  give  87,120  bushels.  With 
a  four-feet  vein,  one  acre  will  give  174,240  bushels.  One 
hundred  acres,  with  a  four-feet  vein,  will  yield  17,424,000 
bushels.  One  square  mile,  with  a  four-feet  vein,  will  yield 
111,513,600  bushels.  The  transportation  of  this  100 
miles,  at  one  cent  per  bushel,  would  yield  the  snug  purse 
of  $1,115,136.  And  as  the  demand  for  coal  would  at 
once  be  increased  to  millions  of  bushels  a  year,  if  a  rail 
road  was  constructed  in  the  Valley,  this  mineral  alone 
would  afford  quite  an  item  of  business  and  profit. 

"  Hydraulic  Limestone. 

"  Of  this  kind  of  stone  is  formed  a  mortar  which  will  set 
under  water.  It  is  essential  for  all  masonry  exposed  to 
the  water  and  to  dampness.  There  are  several  varieties  of 
it :  one  is  called  Septaria.  This  is  found  in  the  form  of 
round  or  flattened  balls,  of  various  sizes.  This  is  the  kind 


£  GEOLOGY    OF    IOWA. 

horn  which  the  English  prepare  the  celebrated  Roman  Ce 
ment.  (Hitchcock's  Geology,  p.  20.)  Comstock  speaks 
of  it  also  as  'Argillo-Ferruginous  Limestone/  This,  how 
ever,  is  another  variety  of  cement-rock,  and  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  common.  It  is  called  black  calcareous  rock,  cement 
rock,  and  hydraulic  limestone.  In  reference  to  the  geolo 
gical  formations  in  the  Valley,  Owen  says,  '  The  middle 
division  of  the  Iowa  Coal-field  affords,  at  many  localities, 
iron-stones  of  various  qualities,  associated  frequently  with 
hydraulic  calcareous  cement,  which  occurs  either  in  the 
form  of  disconnected  septaria,  or  regular  beds/  (Report, 

P-  21.) 

"  Cement  rock  is  found  both  above  and  below  the  coal,  but 
in  the  largest  quantities  above.  The  reader  will  find  mention 
of  it  by  consulting  Owen's  Report,  pp.  112,  127;  and 
more  frequently  still  in  that  part  of  it  which  gives  the 
geological  structure  between  Fort  Des  Moines  and  Fort 
Dodge.  It  is  a  very  common  rock  in  the  Valley;  probably 
in  every  county  on  the  River  below  Fort  Dodge,  In  many 
places  contiguous  to  the  river  in  Davis  County,  there  are 
strata  of  it  several  feet  in  thickness.  The  geological  struc 
ture  of  the  southeast  and  central  parts  of  Marion  County 
are  just  the  same  as  in  Davis.  But  as  the  series  of  rocks 
above  the  coal  show,  themselves  more  extensively  above 
Racoon  Fork,  we  accordingly  find  more  frequent  mention 
of  it  in  that  region.  In  some  places  large  quantities  of  it 
are  wrought  into  cement,  which  is  quite  extensively  used 
in  the  river  improvement.  The  initials  of  it  by  analysis 
are : 


GEOLOGY    OP    IOWA.  45 

"Carbonate  of  lime  63-6 

Silica 15-5 

Alumina 8-3 

Protoxide  of  iron 7-4 

Magnesia 1-2 

With  a  small  portion  of  manganese,  soda,  and  potash. 

"  It  will  readily  be  seen  that  the  demand  for  this  is 
great,  when  it  is  said  that  $6000  worth,  at  the  ordinary 
prices,  will  be  wanted  for  every  lock  on  the  river,  and  when 
it  is  also  said  that  in  nearly  every  dwelling  in  the  western 
country,  cistern  coated  with  this  cement  will  be  indis 
pensable  as  the  means  of  obtaining  a  supply  of  pure,  soft 
water.  The  walls  and  floors  of  damp  cellars  must  also  be  laid 
in  cement.  And  the  cement  of  this  Valley  will  be  wanted 
because  it  is  more  accessible ;  the  present  demand  being  sup 
plied,  in  a  great  measure,  from  La  Salle,  Illinois,  and  from 
Louisville,  Kentucky;  and  also  because  the  Valley  cement  is 
probably  fully  equal  to  that  from  other  places.  That  the 
reader  may  see  how  its  constituents  compare  with  other 
cement,  we  will  give  the  analysis  of  that  which  is  exten 
sively  used  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Its  composition, 
according  to  Professor  Beck,  is  : 

"Carbonate  of  lime 50-70 

Silica 15-37 

Alumina 9-13 

Peroxide  of  iron 2-25 

Magnesia 12-35 

"  Comparing  this  analysis  with  that  of  the  Valley  cement, 
it  will  be  seen  that  they  are  substantially  the  same.  We 


46  GEOLOGY    OF    IOWA. 

•will  here  add  a  practical  remark,  which  may  be  of  much 
value  to  those  who  undertake  to  manufacture  this  cement, 
and  to  those  who  undertake  to  test  specimens.  Very  much 
depends  upon  burning  it.  If  care  be  not  taken,  the  best 
"  ement  may  be  easily  spoiled.  In  St.  John's  Geology,  p. 
274,  will  be  found  the  following : 

"  <  Greater  caution  is  requisite  in  burning  hydraulic  lime, 
since  it  is  fusible,  and  the  heat  applied  to  the  common  lime 
will  vitrify  this  substance  and  render  the  process  quite  im 
perfect.  Common  lime  will  bear  a  white  heat;  but  the 
calcination  of  hydraulic  lime  is  not  well  effected  above  a 
red  heat/ 

"  When  proper  arrangements  shall  be  made  for  working 
this  limestone,  it  is  said  the  cement  can  be  afforded  at  the 
kiln  for  $1-25  per  barrel.  The  carriage  of  it  to  the  Mis 
sissippi  by  land  is  at  most  $1-00  per  barrel  per  100  miles ; 
while  cement  from  other  places  costs  from  $3-00  to  $3-50 
per  barrel. 

"  Common  Limestone. 

(( Though  this  is  regarded  as  prevailing  rock  in  the  West, 
there  are  large  sections  in  Iowa  where  the  limestone  is  so 
largely  magnesian  as  to  be  unfit  for  quick-lime  and  mortar 
The  proper  position  of  the  common  or  mountain  limestona 
in  the  carboniferous  system  is  below  the  coal.  Accordingly, 
'it  is  found  all  along  the  Valley  in  the  greatest  abundance 
and  of  the  best  quality.  Much  of  it  contains  90  per  cent, 
of  carbonate  of  lime.  This  is  among  the  most  valuable  of 
Atones  for  quick-lime. 

"  Closely  allied  to  this  stone,  and  still  lower  in  the  sys- 


GEOLOGY     OP    IOWA.  47 

tern,  is  the  blue  lime-stone.  Some  of  this  is  deep  blue, 
and  some,  of  a  bluish  gray.  It  is  harder  than  common 
limestone,  often  highly  crystalline,  and  fossiliferous.  It 
usually  lies  in  strata  in  the  Valley,  varying  from  a  few 
inches  to  some  feet  in  thickness.  The  stone  is  good  for 
quick-lime,  but  is  of  superior  quality  for  building  material. 
It  is  as  beautiful  and  durable  as  Quincy  granite,  while  the 
cost  of  putting  it  into  the  wall  is  comparatively  trifling. 
The  principal  places  where  it  is  accessible  are  Keokuk,  in 
the  bed  of  the  river  below  Farmington,  Keosauqua,  and 
Outumwa.  It  will  undoubtedly  become  an  article  of  export 
as  soon  as  it  shall  become  known,  when  a  demand  for  the 
best  building  material  arises,  and  the  proper  means  of 
transportation  are  provided. 

"Marble. 

"The  writer  claims  that  there  is  marble  in  the  Des 
Moines  Valley,  of  a  good  quality  and  in  great  quantity. 
'Any  limestone  which  is  sufficiently  hard  to  take  a  fine 
polish  is  called  marble.  Many  of  these  are  fossiliferous/ 
(Lyell's  Elements  of  Geology,  p.  12.)  In  the  limestones 
beneath  the  coal  there  are  several  varieties  which  come 
under  this  definition.  Among  them  may  be  classed  some 
of  those  named  under  the  previous  head.  The  best  quarry 
now  known  in  the  Valley  is  at  Keokuk.  Some  of  the^ 
strata  there  are  highly  crystalline — almost  saccharine — and 
take  a  fine  polish.  St.  Louis  has  already  resorted  to  this 
place  for  building  material ;  a  fact  which  shows  that  this 
marble  is  superior  to  any  other  equally  accessible  to  that 


48  GEOLOGY     OF    IOW  A. 

city.  At  the  same  locality  are  other  varieties  which  polish 
well.  They  are  crystalline,  solid,  but  full  of  fossils,  and 
either  blue,  or  of  a  bluish-gray  color.  Of  the  latter  varie 
ties,  enough  can  be  had  at  Bonaparte,  Bentonsport,  and 
Keosauqua.  And  very  probably,  when  these  quarries  shall 
be  extensively  worked,  the  white  marble  will  be  found. 

"  Not  far  from  Keosauqua  there  is  a  good  variety  of  light- 
gray,  compact,  granular  marble,  of  which  tomb-stones  are 
wrought  by  Deacon  M.  B.  Root.  It  effervesces  slightly 
with  acids,  and  takes  a  polish.  Iowa  sent  a  block  from  this 
quarry  to  the  Washington  Monument.  Ottumwa  may 
expect  to  find  as  good  varieties  of  marble  as  any  place, 
because  the  lower  limestones  have  the  greatest  uplift  there. 

"Quartette. 

"  On  Reed's  Creek,  some  distance  from  its  mouth,  not  far 
from  the  line  between  the  counties  of  Lee  and  Van  Buren, 
are  heavy  beds  of  quartzite.  The  color  of  it  is  nearly 
white — sometimes,  a  light  blue ;  and  it  is  so  slightly  adhe 
sive  that  it  can  easily  be  shaved  off  with  a  spade.  Plas 
terers,  when  working  in  the  neighborhood,  are  accustomed 
to  obtain  it  for  their  '  finishing-coat/  Those  of  them  who 
have  used  this,  and  also  that  obtained  at  the  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony,  say  that  the  two  kinds  are  just  alike.  Examined 
with  a  magnifier,  the  sandstone  on  Reed's  Creek  is  sharply 
angular,  and  appears  to  be  very  pure  quartz.  The  slight 
coloring  it  has  received  has  probably  been  obtained  from 
the  superincumbent  earth.  For  plastering  purposes,  it 
cements  as  well  with  lime  as  that  of  the  Falls ;  and  if  it 


GEOLOGY    OP    IOWA.  49 

really  be  like  it,  these  beds  are  a  source  whence  can  be 
obtained  the  best  materials  fur  the  manufacture  of  crystal 
glass. 

"Clays. 

"Passing  by  the  kinds  from  which  common  brick  are 
made,  and  those  used  for  earthen  and  stone-ware,  the  coal 
measures  abound  in  '  fire-clay/  Fire-proof  bricks  are  wrought 
of  this  for  the  use  of  foundries,  furnaces,  and  in  all  cases 
and  places  where  there  is  an  exposure  to  intense  heat.  In 
the  Eastern  States,  it  has  sometimes  been  necessary  to 
import  these  bricks  from  England.  The  cost  of  them  has 
been  as  high  as  $50  per  thousand.  It  is  desirable  that  fire 
places  and  ovens  should  be  constructed  of  them ;  and  where 
fire-clay  is  plenty,  as  in  the  Valley,  there  is  no  reason  why 
they  should  not  be.  But  bricks  are  heavy  articles  of  trans 
port  ;  and  until  there  are  railroad  facilities  of  carriage,  that 
one  item  of  cost  will  prevent  extensive  business  in  this 
kind  of  manufacture.  With  such  facilities,  there  appears 
no  good  reason  why  this  clay  should  not  be  worked.  And 
as  to  quantity,  the  Valley  can  supply  the  United  States, 
with  Cuba  and  Mexico  annexed ! 

"Iron  Ore. 

"  Iron  has  been  found  in  several  places,  though  no  beds 
are  known  in  the  Valley  of  so  rich  a  character  as  those  of 
the  'Iron  Mountain/  in  Missouri.  Owen  found  this  ore 
in  Marion  County,  in  beds  which  he  considered  would  here 
after  be  worked.  Specimens  taken  from  them  and  exam 
ined  had  a  specific  gravity  of  345;  that  of  pure  iron  being 
5 


50  GEOLOGY    OF    IOWA. 

7'7.  By  analysis,  they  contained  85  per  cent,  of  iron.  This 
iron,  as  to  richness  and  quality,  is  almost  exactly  like  tho 
'  Cairnbill  Black  Band/  of  Scotland,  which  is  extensively 
worked.  Other  and  heavier  beds  have  been  discovered 
since  Owen's  Survey ;  but  whether  rich  or  not,  is  not  cer 
tainly  known ;  the  ore  not  having  been  tested  by  compe 
tent  men.  In  such  circumstances,  it  is  not  possible  to 
speak  of  this  ore  with  great  definiteness. 

"  Gypsum,  or  Plaster  of  Paris. 

"  This  is  chemically  known  as  the  sulphate  of  lime.  The 
heaviest  beds  of  it  in  the  United  States  are  to  be  found  a 
few  miles  below  Lizard  Fork,  in  Yell  County.  They  are 
from  20  to  30  feet  thick,  and  show  themselves  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  for  miles ;  and  they  extend  back  each  way 
an  unknown  distance.  By  analysis,  this  gypsum  contains 
70-8  per  cent,  of  sulphate  of  lime. 

"  On  one  acre,  with  an  average  thickness  of  20  feet, 
there  will  be  871-200  cubic  feet;  on  one  square  mile, 
557,568,000  cubic  feet;  and  on  three  miles  square, 
5,018,112,000  cubic  feet  and  308,031,428  tons. 

"  Before  closing  this  paper  on  the  minerals  of  the  Valley, 
it  is  proper  to  say  that  the  survey  of  Dr.  Owen  was  made 
by  order  of  the  United  States,  and  had  for  its  more  special 
object  the  discovery  of  mineral  lands,  such  as  the  Govern 
ment  might  wish  to  reserve.  The  principal  minerals  sought 
were  lead  and  copper.  The  coal-field  was  surveyed  and 
mapped  down,  while  the  other  minerals  noticed  in  this 
paper  received  only  incidental  attention  and  secondary  con 
sideration — some  of  them,  no  mention  at  all.  Could  there 


GEOLOGY    OF    IOWA.  51 

be  a  thorough  geological  survey  by  the  authority  of  our 
own  State,  it  is  probable  that  valuable  discoveries  would  be 
made  in  the  Des  Moines  Yalley,  as  well  as  in  other  parts 
of  the  State.*  The  multitude  of  streams  which  debouch 
into  the  Des  Moines  have  not  been  explored  to  any  consi 
derable  extent. 

"  Collectively,  the  minerals  of  this  Yalley,  as  now  known, 
are  extensive  and  valuable  They  constitute  one  of  the 
many  items  which  render  their  locality  so  attractive.  It  is 
traversed  by  one  of  the  most  beautiful  rivers  on  earth;  400 
miles  in  length,  a  large  portion  of  it  250  yards  in  breadth : 
capable  of  floating  steamers  a  part  of  the  year,  and  afford 
ing  water-power  to  any  desirable  extent :  with  a  landscape 
of  great  and  charming  variety,  groves,  and  forests,  and 
prairies,  in  constant  alternation,  and  possessing  a  soil 
'  scarcely  excelled  for  fertility,  perhaps,  in  the  world/  why 
ehould  it  not.be  thronged  with  inhabitants?  It  is  the 
centre  of  the  'Mesopotamia  of  the  West/  in  a  more  im 
portant  sense  than  that  of  its  position.  Let  but  the  iron 
horse  traverse  the  whole  length  of  the  Yalley,  and  its  silver 
stream  will  be  skirted  with  cities  and  villages  in  as  great 
continuity  as  is  the  Bosphorus ;  meanwhile,  its  agricultural, 
and  mineral,  and  manufactured  exports,  will  amount  to 
many  millions  of  dollars  annually." 

*  By  reference  to  the  chapters  on  particular  counties,  in  this 
work,  it  will  be  seen  that  discoveries  of  iron,  copper,  lead,  and 
coal  have  been  made  in  localities  not  specified  in  the  foregoing 
paper.  At  its  last  session,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  appro 
priating  $2,500  per  year,  until  the  work  is  completed,  for  a  tho 
rough  geological  survey  of  the  State  ;  the  work  to  be  performed 
by  a  geologist  and  a  chemist,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor. 


52  POPULATION. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 

POPULATION  —  IMMENSE   IMMIGRATION   OF   1854. 

THE  population  of  the  Territory  in  1836,  was  10,531; 
in  1840,  it  was  43,017;  in  1850,  192,214.  The  census, 
as  returned  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  taken  in  the  spring 
of  1854,  is  as  follows:  Males,  170,302;  females,  154,900; 
total  population,  325,202.  Voters,  59,984;  militia,  50,284; 
aliens,  10,373;  colored  males,  258;  colored  females,  222; 
blind,  27 ;  deaf  and  dumb,  28 ;  insane,  47 ;  idots,  7. 
There  is  one  vote  to  every  five  and  a  half  and  a  fraction  of 
the  population. 

According  to  this  last  census,  the  number  of  males  ex 
ceeds  that  of  the  females  some  16,000.  Let  the  Yankee 
girls  take  the  hint  when  they  see  these  figures. 

The  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  State  in  January, 
1855,  has  been  estimated  at  upwards  of  500,000.  Those 
who  have  seen  and  can  realize  that  Iowa  is  the  mouth  of 
the  great  Stream  of  Humanity,  whose  tributaries  extend 
far  and  wide,  into  every  State  and  many  nations  —  that 
stream  which  is  daily  and  hourly  pouring  into  this  great, 
and  fertile,  and  beautiful  State,  its  hundreds  and  thousands, 
cannot  but  predict  that  in  1860  Iowa  will  be  peopled  by 
more  than  a  million  of  hardy,  energetic,  and  intelligent 
inhabitants. 


IMMIGRATION     OF    1854.  53 

By  some,  this  may  be  deemed  a  wild  speculation ;  but 
we  think  we  have  good  and  sufficient  reasons  for  placing 
our  estimate  thus.  That  the  reader  may  have  some  idea 
of  the  immense  influx  into  Iowa;  we  will  annex  a  few 
extracts  which  appeared  in  the  newspapers  at  different 
points  in  the  State  last  summer  and  fall. 

OF  THE  IMMENSE  IMMIGRATION  or  1854. 
The  Iowa  City  Reporter  says  : 

"  Mr.  Watts,  of  this  city,  has  recently  returned  from  a 
trip  East.  On  his  way  home,  he  represents  the  immigra 
tion  bound  for  Iowa  as  astonishing  and  unprecedented.  For 
miles  and  miles,  day  after  day,  the  prairies  of  Illinois  are 
lined  with  cattle  and  wagons,  pushing  on  towards  our  pros 
perous  State. 

"A  point  beyond  Peoria,  Mr.  Watts  remained  over 
night;  where  he  was  informed  that,  during  a  single  month, 
seventeen  hundred  and  forty-three  wagons  had  passed,  and 
all  for  Iowa.  Allowing  five  persons  to  a  wagon,  which  is 
a  fair  average,  we  have  8715  souls  to  add  to  our  population. 
This  being  but  the  immigration  of  the  month,  and  upon 
one  route  only  out  of  many,  it  would  not  be  an  unreasonable 
assertion  to  say  that  50,000  men,  women,  and  children  will 
( have  come  into  this  State  by  the  first  of  December,  reckon 
ing  from  the  first  of  September." 

Remembering  that  those  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Watts  all 
came  by  wagons,  please  add  this  item,  from  the  Chicago 
Press  : 

"  Most  of  the  passenger  trains  came  in  last  week  with 
5* 


54  IMMIGRATION    OF    1854. 

two  locomotives ;  and  the  reason  of  this  great  increase  of 
power  will  be  understood  when  it  is  known  that  twelve  thou 
sand  passengers  arrived  from  the  East,  by  the  Michigan 
Southern  road,  during  the  last  week  —  a  city  in  the  short 
'  space  of  six  days  !" 

To  the  above,  add  the  crowds  who  ascend  the  Mississippi 
and  Missouri  upon  every  boat,  of  whom  as  many  as  600 
have  passed  St.  Louis  in  one  day  ! 

The  OsJcaloosa  Times  says : 

"  From  early  morning  till  night-fall,  the  covered  wagons 
are  passing  through  the  place." 

"We  learn  from  old  citizens  that  the  tide  of  immigra 
tion  is  this  year  greater  than  they  have  ever  known  before." 

"We  should  think  at  least  a  thousand  persons  pass 
through  Oskaloosa  every  week,  about  these  times,  on  their 
way  westward." 

"  Not  an  hour  in  the  day  but  we  see  teams  l  hauling  up' 
on  the  Square." 

The  Davenport  Com mercial  adds: 

"  That's  our  case,  precisely.  Our  ferry  is  busy  all  hours 
in  passing  over  the  large  canvas-backed  wagons,  densely 
populated  with  becoming  lowaians.  An  army  of  mechan 
ics  have  added  300  buildings  to  this  city  during  the  past 
season,  yet  every  nook  and  corner  of  them  are  engaged 
before  they  are  finished ;  but  our  hospitable  citizens  will 
not  allow  any  to  suffer  for  want  of  a  shelter.  In  several 
instances  the  citizens  have,  like  true  aborigines,  withdrawn 
to  close  quarters,  and  given  their  parlors  to  those  who  have 
come  to  make  their  homes  among  us  and  were  unable  to 


IMMIGRATION     OF    1854.  55 

find  dwellings.  There  is  not  a  vacant  dwelling  or  business 
room  in  the  city." 

The  Burlington  Telegraph  says  : 

"  20,000  immigrants  have  passed  through  the  city  within 
the  last  thirty  days,  and  they  are  still  crossing  at  the  rate 
of  600  and  700  a  day.  We  have  these  facts  from  the  ferry 
folks,  who  keep  a  sort  of  running  register.  About  one 
team  in  a  hundred  is  labelled  ( Nebraska/  all  the  rest  are 
marked  *  Iowa/  ;; 

The  Dubuque  Tribune  says  : 

"Daily  —  yes,  hourly — immigrants  are  arriving  in  this 
and  neighboring  counties  from  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana, 
and  Illinois.  All  are  in  raptures  at  the  lovely  sights 
which  here  greet  their  gaze ;  and  they  with  one  accord 
yield  the  palm  to  Western  Iowa  for  lovely  prairies,  beauti 
ful  groves  of  timber,  and  meandering  streams  of  water." 

The  editor  of  the  Dubuque  Reporter  thus  speaks  of  the 
"Prospects  of  Iowa"  : 

"  Never  before,  in  the  history  of  this  northwestern  region 
of  the  United  States,  has  there  been  a  more  gratifying 
spectacle  than  that  now  presented  to  those  who  take  an 
interest  in  its  progress  and  welfare.  Viewing  the  almost 
countless  throng  of  immigrants  that  crowd  our  streets,  and 
learning  that  a  similar  scene  is  visible  at  every  other  point 
along  the  Mississippi  border  of  Iowa,  the  spectator  is 
naturally  led  to  infer  that  a  general  exodus  is  taking  place 
in  the  Eastern  States  of  the  Union,  as  well  as  in  those 
that,  but  a  few  years  ago,  were  denominated  the  West. 

4<  Day  by  day  the  endless  procession  moves  on — a  mighty 


56  IMMIGRATION    OF     1354. 

army  of  invasion,  which,  were  its  objects  other  than 
and  a  holy,  fraternal,  cordial  league  with  its  predecessors, 
their  joint  aim  to  conquer  this  fair  and  alluring  domain  from 
the  wild  dominion  of  nature  would  strike  terror  into  the 
boldest  hearts.  They  come  by  hundreds  and  thousands 
from  the  hills  and  valleys  of  New  England,  bringing  with 
them  that  same  untiring,  indomitable  energy  and  perse 
verance,  that  have  made  their  native  States  the  admiration 
of  the  world,  and  whose  influence  is  felt  wherever  enter 
prise  has  a  votary  or  commerce  spreads  a  sail ;  with  intel 
lects  sharpened  to  the  keenest  edge,  and  brawny  arms  to 
execute  the  firm  resolves  of  their  iron  will,  and  gathering 
fresh  accessions,  as  they  sweep  across  the  intermediate 
country,  from  the  no  less  thrifty  and  hardy  population  of 
New  York,  Ohio,  and  Indiana.  Tarrying  no  longer 
amongst  us  than  is  necessary  for  them  to  select  their  future 
home,  away  they  hie  to  the  capacious  and  inviting  plains, 
that  spread  themselves  interminably,  ready  to  yield,  almost 
without  preparation,  their  rich  latent  treasures. 

"  Soon  will  be  seen  innumerable  the  farmer's  comfort 
able  abode,  and  the  frequent  thriving  village,  with  its  '  peo 
ple's  college/  as  its  highest  worldly  pride,  and  close  at 
'hand  the  house  of  God,  with  spire  pointing  to  heaven,  as 
if  to  remind  the  worshippers  of  the  source  to  which  they 
are  indebted  for  all  the  store  of  blessings  they  enjoy.  And 
soon,  too,  in  the  wake  of  such  a  mighty  rush  and  all  its 
soul-swelling  consequences,  will  follow  the  laying  out  and 
construction  of  those  great  works  that  will  link  us  to  the 
wide-spread  members  of  our  confederacy,  over  which  the 


IMMIGRATION     OP     1854.  57 

iron  horse,  more  terrible  in  the  fierceness  of  his  strength 
than  the  war-steed  of  Job,  will  snort  his  triumphant  ha, 
ha !  as  he  bounds  along  in  his  tireless  race.  Science,  in 
turn,  will  rear  her  loftiest  fanes,  and  plant  deep  in  the 
hearts  of  her  disciples  the  seeds  of  a  deathless  devotion  to 
the  institutions  of  our  common  country. 

"  And  to  what,  let  us  ask,  is  the  high  tide  setting  into 
Iowa  fairly  to  be  ascribed  ? 

"  We  take  it  on  ourselves  to  answer  that  the  unanimous 
consent  of  those  who  have  investigated  her  claims  accords 
her  a  climate  of  unequalled  salubrity,  a  soil  of  the  most 
generous  fertility,  and  a  geographical  position  unsurpassed 
by  that  of  any  other  Western  State ;  in  a  word,  that  natu 
rally  she  contains  within  her  limits  all  the  elements  which, 
properly  availed  of  by  man,  will  secure  his  highest  tem 
poral  prosperity  and  happiness.  During  the  past  year,  she 
has  been  peculiarly  favored.  Whilst  the  contiguous  States, 
and  many  of  those  more  remote,  have  yielded  harvests 
diminished  by  drought  in  the  ratio  of  from  a  fourth  to  a 
Lalf,  hers  has  been  at  least  equal  to  an  average  one.  She 
is  thus  able  to  supply  not  only  her  producers,  but  likewise 
all  who  have  since  come,  and  are  yet  to  arrive  this  year. 
This  has  been  of  incalculable  advantage  to  her.  Inasmuch 
as  every  immigrant  comes  provided  with  the  means  for 
entering  land  and  defraying  expenses  till  he  can  make  a 
crop,  money  has  been  in  freer  circulation  here  than  in  any 
other  part  of  the  country.  A  fact  equally  gratifying  is, 
that  the  immigration  hither  numbers  in  its  ranks  many 
men  of  wealth,  who  consequently  bring  to  us  an  accession 


58  IMMIGRATION     OF     1854. 

of  capital  that  must  of  course  produce  results  which  are 
usually  unseen  in  new  states  for  years  after  their  settle 
ment. 

"  We  conclude  our  remarks  on  the  prospects  of  Iowa  by 
tendering  our  congratulations  to  her  citizens  on  the  proud 
and  enviable  position  she  occupies  —  a  position  obtained 
without  effort,  and  which  is  but  a  foretaste  of  that  she  will 
attain  as  her  strength  is  increased  and  her  concentrated 
energies  directed  to  the  securing  of  a  yet  loftier  elevation/7 

The  editor  of  the  Keokuk  Whig  thus  speaks,  under  the 
announcement  of 

"  l  STILL  THEY  COME  !'  By  railways  and  steamers,  the 
flood  of  immigration  continues  pouring  into  the  great  West. 
The  lake-shore  roads  are  crowded  to  their  utmost  capacity; 
single  trains  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  cars,  all  full  of  men, 
women,  and  a  large  sprinkling  of  children,  are  almost 
daily  arriving  at  Chicago.  The  Ohio  River  steamers  are 
crowded  in  the  same  way.  On  Friday  last,  two  steamers 
brought  into  St.  Louis  some  600  passengers;  most  of  whom, 
being  destined  for  the  northwest,  have  already  passed 
through  this  place.  And  i  still  they  come/  from  Pennsyl 
vania,  from  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  other  States,  until,  by  the 
side  of  this  exodus,  that  of  the  Israelites  becomes  an  insig 
nificant  item,  and  the  greater  migrations  of  later  times  are 
scarcely  to  be  mentioned.  Whether  the  older  States  are 
suffering  by  this  rapid  depletion,  or  how  long  they  can  en 
dure  it,  is  their  own  look-out.  Certain  it  is  that  Iowa  in 
particular,  and  the  other  Western  and  Northwestern  States 
generally  are  rapidly  filling  up  with  a  hardy,  industrious 


IMMIGRATION    OF    1854.  59 

and  wealth-producing  population.  Let  them  come  !  Here 
is  room,  and  to  spare  !  Here  is  a  theatre  for  human  ope 
rations  on  the  grandest  scale  !  Here  is  the  place  for  the 
young  man,  just  starting  out  in  life,  for  the  old  man,  seek 
ing  to  provide  for  his  children,  for  '  all  sorts  of  men/  in 
search  of  fortune,  fame,  or  wealth ;  for  any  one,  also,  who 
has  an  eye  and  a  soul  for  Nature  in  her  grandest  forms  of 
lavish  profusion  and  splendid  magnificence. 

"  There  is  something  in  the  l  growing,  glowing  West/ 
with  her  limitless  prairies,  her  mighty  rivers,  her  moun 
tains  of  iron,  the  lavish  richness  of  her  all-bountiful  soil, 
that  expands  the  soul  of  man,  and  elevates  him  above  the 
narrow,  cramped,  and  confined  ideas  of  those  who  are  ac 
customed  only  to  the  well-worn  channels  and  small  conven 
tionalities  of  older  hum-drum  communities.  There  the 
'  new  man '  is  apt  to  find  himself  an  unwelcome  jostler, 
his  intrusion  viewed  askance,  his  elbow-room  begrudged 
him,  and  his  presence  tolerated  only  upon  condition  of  his 
accepting  the  procrustean  standard  of  hoary  and  respectable 
'use  and  wont/  unless,  indeed,  a  position  can  be  asserted 
and  maintained  by  force  of  very  superior  talent,  or  unusual 
accidental  advantages.  But  here  all  is  new,  and  plastic, 
and  vigorous.  Men  are  wanted  here,  and  are  welcomed. 
And  here  at  once  is  found  a  boundless  and  untrammelled 
field  of  enterprise,  adequate  to  the  elastic  energies  of  in 
genious  youth  or  mature  manhood.  It  is  curious  to  watch 
the  development  of  a  comer  from  the  old-fogy  settlements : 
to  see  his  mind  expand,  his  eye  light  up  with  the  fire  of  a 


60  IMMIGRATION     OF     1854, 

renewed  energy,  and  his  whole  nature  grow  to  the  liberal 
standard  of  Nature's  doings  in  the  West. 

"  Therefore,  we  repeat  again,  let  them  come  —  old  and 
young,  men  and  women,  boys  and  girls,  with  or  without 
*  plunder/  Let  them  flee  from  their  tax-ridden  and  mise 
rably  governed  Egypts  in  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  to  the 
Land  of  Promise,  flowing  with  something  better  than  milk 
and  honey,  and  possessing  capabilities  such  as  they  have 
hardly  dreamed  of.  Here  they  shall  find  welcome  homes ; 
and,  while  they  speedily  help  themselves  to  attain  better 
fortunes,  they  shall  also  have  a  hand  in  the  proud  labor  of 
building  up  the  mighty  Empire  of  the  Mississippi  Valley." 

The  editor  of  the  Keolcuk  Dispatch,  after  returning  from 
a  two-weeks'  furlough,  says : 

"  No  one  can  travel  up  and  down  the  Mississippi  without 
being  astonished  at  the  immigration  constantly  pouring  into 
Iowa  from  all  parts  of  the  country ;  but  especially  from 
Indiana  and  Ohio. 

"  Two  gentlemen  from  Richmond  County,  Ohio,  told  us 
that  from  that  County  alone  1000  persons  were  coming  to 
Iowa  this  fall ;  at  every  ferry  on  the  river  crowds  are  wait 
ing  to  cross;  and  the  land-offices  all  over  the  State  are 
unable  to  meet  the  demands  upon  them  by  those  who  are 
eager  to  enter  lands. 

"  Our  journey  led  us  into  Jackson  and  Jones  Counties, 
where  we  met, in  all  directions,  indications  of  rapid  settle 
ment,  thrift,  and  energy.  We  spent  some  days  in  Jones 
County^on  the  prairie  watered  by  Mineral  Creek,  and  learned 
that  but  a  year  ago  there  were  forty  thousand  acres  of  un- 


IMMIGRATION    OP    1854.  61 

entered  land,  while  there  is  not  now  as  much  as  amounts 
to  a  section  to  be  had.  Although  the  prairie  is  but  a  few 
miles  in  extent,  there  are  already  forty  habitations  upon  it. 

"  We  left  the  river  at  Bellevue  —  the  seat  of  Jackson 
County.  It  is  beautifully  situated,  and  ought  to  be  a  con 
siderable  town.  Jackson  County  numbers  about  11,000 
in  population.  Maquoketa  is  a  thriving  place,  and  Sabula 
means  to  do  a  large  business  when  the  Air  Line  Railroad 
crosses  at  that  point. 

"When  we  take  into  account  the  central  position  of 
Iowa  in  our  confederacy,  and  the  fact  of  the  rapid  develop 
ment  of  her  resources,  we  can  easily  believe  that  she  is  des 
tined  to  become,  at  no  distant  day,  all  that  the  most  san 
guine  hope  for.  Her  salubrious  climate,  the  abundance  of 
water,  and  the  favorable  distribution  of  timber,  all  contri 
bute  to  give  Iowa  pre-eminence  among  the  Western  States 
in  the  minds  of  those  who  are  exchanging  a  residence  in 
the  East  for  one  in  the  West." 

We  could  occupy  pages  more  in  giving  like  extracts  from 
the  press  in  various  parts  of  the  State ;  but  the  foregoing 
will  suffice. 


62  GENERAL    REMARKS. 


CHAPTER  X. 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

[THE  following  extracts  from  "Letters  on  the  West" 
(contributed  to  the  columns  of  the  Davenport  Commer 
cial —  published  by  the  author  —  last  year,)  are  herein  in 
serted  as  containing  much  information  respecting  the  coun 
try,  and  many  practical  hints  to  the  new  settler,  not  in 
print  elsewhere.  These  letters  are  from  the  pen  of  Wil- 
lard  Barrows,  Esq. ;  than  whom,  probably,  no  individual 
in  the  State  possesses  more  thorough  information  on  the 
topics  he  speaks  of;  he  having  spent  some  eighteen  years 
as  Government  and  General  Surveyor.] 

li  Introduction — The  Rivers  and  Lalces  of  Iowa — Her  Mi 
neral  Resources  —  Onward  March  of  Civilization. 
"Aware  of  the  difficulty  the  immigrant  from  the  Eastern 
States  labors  under  in  obtaining  a  correct  knowledge  of  the 
West — of  its  vast  resources,  its  immense  fields  for  cultiva 
tion,  spread  out  in  untold  beauty,  inviting  the  husbandman 
to  partake  of  the  bounty  which  a  beneficent  Being  has 
spread  out  before  him,  I  hope  to  furnish  your  readers  with 
some  facts  that  will  prove  interesting  and  profitable  to  those 
intending  to  make  their  homes  in  Iowa.  I  would  speak  of 
our  beautiful  rivers,  productive  soil,  and  healthful  climate ; 


GENERAL    RE  MARKS.  63 

of  the  glassy  lakes,  whose  pebbled  shores  have  for  ages 
been  the  haunts  of  the  elk,  the  buffalo,  and  the  deer,  and 
whose  waters  abound  in  the  finest  specimens  of  the  finny 
tribe.  These  solitary  places,  that  have  slept  in  beauty  so 
long,  have  been  awakened  into  life.  The  woodman's  axe 
now  begins  to  echo  on  the  banks  of  our  streams,  and  the 
hum  of  voices  resounds  upon  our  lakes.  Civilization,  in 
her  westward  march,  has  aroused  the  deer  from  his  lair ;  and 
where,  but  yesterday,  the  wolf  held  undisputed  sway,  the 
familiar  bark  of  the  farmer's  faithful  dog  is  heard. 

"  Probably  no  State  in  the  Union  has  ever  been  settled 
with  greater  rapidity,  or  in  so  short  a  period  of  time 
gained  greater  renown,  than  Iowa. 

"Bounded  on  the  east  by  that  noblest  of  rivers,  the 
Mississippi,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Missouri,  cut  up  and 
intersected  at  the  most  important  points  by  railroads,  pro 
jected  and  under  contract,  possessing  almost  inexhaustible 
supplies  of  lead  in  the  north,  and  of  coal  in  the  south,  of 
lime,  sand,  and  other  building-stone  in  almost  every  portion 
of  the  State,  she  combines  within  her  borders, resources  that 
must  render  her,  in  point  of  position  and  wealth,  one  of 
the  most  important  States  in  the  Republic. 

"  The  Climate  of  Iowa  may  be  compared  with  that  of 
New  Jersey  and  the  vicinity  of  New  York  City ;  except 
that  we  have  not  here  as  much  rain  and  foggy  weather  as  they 
have.  Here  it  is,  in  general,  an  unbroken  winter  from  the 
middle  of  November  till  January ;  when  we  are  invariably 
visited  with  the  January  thaw  ;  after  which,  the  weather 
is  generally  mild,  and  gradually  merges  into  spring.  We 


64  GENERAL    REMARKS. 

have  but  little  snow  —  not  enough  to  prepare  for  sleighing, 
and  but  few  sleds  or  sleighs  are  manufactured.  We  are 
free  from  the  sudden  changes  so  common  to  New  England; 
the  weather  is  less  variable.  Our  storms  are  from  the  east; 
our  showers  from  the  west. 

a  Cultivation  and  yield  of  Wheat,  Corn,  Oats,  Potatoes  and 

Onions. 

"  Our  wheat  is  sown  in  March,  and  our  corn  planted  the 
last  of  April  and  first  of  May.  But  little  winter  wheat  is 
grown  here ;  the  light  snows  are  insufficient  to  protect  it 
from  winter-killing.  Spring  wheat  is  raised  in  great  abund 
ance,  and  of  a  good  quality.  Corn  is  raised  in  large  quan 
tities  ;  and  all  the  products  of  the  earth,  congenial  to  this 
climate  grow,  with  but  little  labor.  Seldom  is  the  hoe  used 
in  the  corn  or  potatoe-field  —  the  horse  and  plough  do  the 
work  in  general.  Of  the  wheat  crop,  40  bushels  to  the 
acre  is  considered  a  good  crop ;  and  of  corn,  50,  60,  and 
75  bushels  are  raised  to  the  acre;  400  and  500  bushels  of 
potatoes  and  onions  are  common  to  the  acre.  I  know  of 
large  crops  being  taken  from  the  ground  —  such  as  100 
bushels  of  oats  to  the  acre,  and  the  same  of  corn ;  but  they 
are  not  common,  and  such  tales  only  serve  to  heighten  the 
fancy  of  those  who  intend  immigrating,  and  mislead  them. 

"The  Soil  and  Prospects  of  the  Farmer  East  and  West 

compared. 

"A  man  cannot  come  here  and  grow  rich  in  idleness :  he 
must  work.  Our  soil  is  prplific,  but  must  have  care  and 


GENERAL    RE  MARKS.  65 

culture.  It  is  true  that  man  can  live  with  less  labor  than 
in  the  older  States  j  the  soil  is  easier  tilled.  He  can  make 
himself  a  home  much  sooner,  and  far  more  easily,  than 
those  who  purchase  land  in  northern  New  York,  Ohio,  and 
Indiana.  How  many  are  there  in  those  States  who  have 
toiled  for  years  to  cut  away  the  timber  and  burn  it ;  ex 
pending,  on  an  average,  $10  or  $12  an  acre  before  the  plow 
can  enter  the  land,  and  then  be  used  with  great  difficulty 
among  the  stumps,  roots,  and  rocks ;  and  how  many  farm 
ers  are  there  now,  in  those  States,  going  down  to  the  grave 
in  the  meridian  of  life  with  a  worn-out  and  broken  consti 
tution  !  Compare  the  new  settlement  of  those  States  with 
a  settlement  in  Iowa.  Here,  the  immigrant  enters  upon 
his  land,  perhaps,  at  government  price  —  $1*25  per  acre  ; 
or,  if  he  pays  $5,  or  even  $10,  per  acre,  he  finds  it  free 
from  all  obstacles  in  making  a  farm.  For  the  sum  of  $2-50, 
the  prairie  is  broken  up,  and  often  corn  is  planted  the  first 
year,  by  striking  the  axe  into  the  turf  and  dropping  the 
corn,  which  yields  15  to  25  bushels  per  acre.  This  is 
called  sod-corn.  The  second  year,  the  turf  is  rotten,  the 
ground  easily  tilled,  and  the  husbandman's  labors  are 
crowned  with  success. 

u Enclosing   Farms  —  Osage   Orange  as  a  Substitute  for 

Board,  Wire,  or  Sod  Fences. 

"  To  enclose  the  land,  various  kinds  of  fencing  have  been 
tried.     Among  the  early  settlers,  the  sod  fence  was  made 
by  those  who  had  a  scarcity  of  timber,  but  proved  a  per 
fect  failure.     The  soil  being  too  alluvial  and  loamy  to  sus- 
6* 


66  GENERAL    RE  MARKS. 

tain  itself,  the  common  board  fence  was  resorted  to,  till, 
more  recently,  the  wire  fence  has  been  introduced,  and  suc 
ceeds  well  where  it  is  properly  made.  In  most  parts  of  the 
State,  hogs  are  not  allowed  to  run  at  large,  and  of  course 
less  fencing  is  required.  It  is  now  sufficiently  demonstrated, 
by  trial  of  a  few,  that  the  Osage-orange  hedge  is  to  be  the 
great  remedy  for  lack  of  timber  upon  our  prairies :  it  has 
been  tested,  and  found  that  a  hedge  of  this  shrub  will  turn 
any  kind  of  animal,  from  a  horse  to  a  sucking  pig,  in  three  or 
four  years.  This  fence  can  be  made  for  forty  cents  per  rod, 
and  warranted,  or  no  pay.  Upon  the  prairie,  where  there  is 
not  much  range  of  cattle,  the  hedge  can  be  planted  and  grown 
without  fence  to  protect  it ;  nothing  will  eat  the  plant,  and 
the  few  that  might  be  destroyed  by  being  trod  upon,  can 
easily  be  replaced.  In  fencing,  then,  100  acres  square,  the 
expense  would  be  $250,  for  a  fence  that  would  last  for  ever. 
It  will  need  training  only,  as  it  does  not  sprout  from  the 
roots.  But,  half  of  this  fence  will  be  for  the  accommoda 
tion  of  your  neighbor ;  consequently,  your  cost  will  be  but 
half  this  sum.  In  order  to  make  this  fence,  the  ground 
must  be  broken  some  eight  or  ten  feet  wide,  upon  the  line 
of  fence,  one  year  before  the  planting  of  the  hedge.  I 
understand  that  a  contract  has  been  made  recently,  by  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  to  fence  the  entire  road,  some 
300  miles,  with  the  Osage  orange. 

"  For  immediate  use,  those  who  have  no  timber  must 
fence  with  lumber;  which  is  $15  per  thousand  feet;  and 
the  white-cedar  post  can  be  had  for  $10  per  hundred.  It 
will  take  1280  posts,  eight  feet  apart,  to  fence  100  acres 


GENERAL    RE  MARKS.  67 

with  wire  or  boards;  the  amount  of  either  of  the  latter 
will  be  regulated  according  to  the  number  of  strands ;  which 
may  be  three  or  five.  There  is  but  one  great  deficiency  in  our 
State  —  the  scarcity  of  timber.  But  we  hope  for  a  substi 
tute  in  the  Osage  orange,  as  far  as  fencing  is  concerned. 

"Renting,    building.  Brick-making  —  No  Vacant  Lands 
near  the  Mississippi  River. 

"Tillable  land  is  now  rented  at  $1-75  to  82-00  per  acre. 
The  first  tenement  of  the  settler  is  generally  of  small  di 
mensions;  reared  in  haste,  and  ultimately  to  form  the 
kitchen  part  of  his  future  dwelling.  Brick  is  made  in  all 
parts  of  the  State ;  and  in  most  parts,  the  limestone  rock 
is  abundant,  and  often  used  for  entire  dwellings  for  man 
and  beast.  The  vacant  land  or  lands,  still  owned  by  the 
Government,  have  now  become  very  scarce  in  the  settled 
portions  of  the  State.  No  selections  of  good  land  can  now 
be  made  within  fifty  or  seventy-five  miles  of  the  Mississippi 
River.  The  immense  immigration  of  the  last  two  years 
has  secured  all  choice  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  settlements 
arid  railroads ;  and  the  only  chance  of  the  immigrant  for 
land  at  $1-25  per  acre,  is  to  go  back  into  the  interior  of 
the  State.  Many  prefer  purchasing  nearer  market — nearer 
the  Mississippi  River ;  where  unimproved  land  can  be  had 
at  from  $4  to  $10  per  acre,  and  improved  farms  at  from 
$10  to  $40,  and  even  $50  per  acre — according  to  the  value 
of  improvements. 


68  GENERAL    REMARKS. 

11  Iowa  as  it  is,  and  as  tlie  Immigrant  may  expect  to  find  it 

— Earnest  Labor  the  Price  of  Success. 
<(  The  immigrant  must  not  come  here  as  many  do  —  ex 
pecting  to  find  first  rate  land,  with  timber  and  water,  all 
spread  out  before  him,  very  near  some  city  or  town,  for  $1-25 
per  acre ;  it  is  not  to  be  had.  He  must  not  come  expect 
ing  to  find  Iowa  a  desolate,  dreary,  uncultivated  waste,  with 
here  and  there  a  green  spot,  inhabited  by  pioneers  living 
in  log  cabins  and  just  merging  into  civilization;  neither 
must  he  come  expecting  to  live  at  ease,  enjoying  the  luxu 
ries  of  life  and  health,  rolling  in  upon  him  without  any 
exertion.  A  home  can  be  had  by  the  poorest,  with  prudence 
and  economy.  Noplace  in  the  wide  world  can  offer  greater 
inducements  to  the  immigrant  than  Iowa  ;  lut  he  must  look 
at  it  as  it  is.  No  fancied  sketch  must  weave  around  his 
imagination  sudden  wealth  or  unreal  beauties,  seen  only  in 
the  dreary  picture  before  him.  He  may  fancy  Iowa  a  garden, 
and,  roaming  over  its  prairies,  gather  flowers  from  its  rich 
soil,  and  exclaim  with  the  Indian,  in  ecstasies  of  delight, 
'  I-o-wah  !' — '  I  have  found  the  beautiful  land  !'  but  it  will 
never  make  him  rich,  nor  create  for  him  a  happy  home, 
without  toil  and  labor. 

<f  Unentered  Lands — Immense  Immigration  of  1854 —  Cen 
tral  Iowa  —  Best  Portions  of  the  State  yet  Unsettled  — 
The  Destiny  of  Iowa. 
"  There  are  yet  large  bodies  of  land  subject  to  entry  at 

the  government  price  —  $1-25  per  acre.     Early  in  the  sea- 


GENERAL    REMARKS.  69 

son,  there  was  much  upon  the  line  of  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  Railroad  subject  to  sale ;  but  I  found  none  at  this 
time  within  less  than  four  miles  of  the  railroad.  The 
timber-lands  of  this  section  of  country  are  all  secured ;  no 
thing  remains  but  prairie.  The  wood-lands  must  be  pur 
chased  at  second  rates,  from  $5  to  $10  per  acre.  These 
back  counties,  even  to  Council  Bluffs,  are  better  timbered 
than  those  within  fifty  miles  of  the  Mississippi  River,  ex 
cept  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Iowa.  There  is  yet  most 
excellent  prairie  land  in  the  tier  of  counties  west  of  John 
son  and  Washington,  as  far  back  as  Polk  and  Dallas  Coun 
ties.  But  how  long  any  portion  of  this  beautiful  country 
will  remain  subject  to  sale  by  the  Government,  is  uncertain. 
The  immense  immigration  to  the  interior  of  Iowa  this  sea 
son  exceeds,  by  far,  all  former  years.  The  roads  are  full 
of  immigrant  teams;  the  groves,  creeks,  and  woodlands 
seem  alive  with  men,  women,  and  children,  encamped  in 
wagons,  tents,  and  cabins,  until  houses  can  be  erected. 

"  There  are  upwards  of  one  hundred  counties  of  land  in 
this  State  surveyed  and  in  market;  two-thirds  of  that 
number  are  organized,  and  contain  a  population  of  from 
100  to  25,000  each ;  the  river  tier  of  counties  being  the 
first  settled  and  most  densely  populated.  Central  Iowa  is 
the  best  body  of  land  in  the  State ;  and,  in  all  probability, 
the  State  of  Iowa  is  the  best  in  the  United  States.  The 
better  portions  of  Iowa  are  not  settled  yet.  The  immigrant 
must  not  think  that  Iowa  is  all  sold,  or  in  the  hands  of 
speculators.  Go  where  you  may,  westward  or  northward,  and 
the  boundless  prairie  is  spread  out  before  you,  dotted  here  and 


70  GENERAL    REMARKS. 

there  with  its  groves  and  its  gentle  rivers,  skirted  with  timber; 
and  you  find  no  diminution  in  beauty  or  richness  of  soil : 
the  same  deep,  black  loam  is  found  northward  to  the  St. 
Peter's  River,  and  westward  to  the  Missouri.  The  immi 
grant  who  is  willing  to  penetrate  unsettled  portions,  and 
endure  the  privations  incident  to  a  frontier  life,  can  lay, 
for  himself  and  his  children,  the  foundations  of  a  fortune 
and  a  home  that  will  make  glad  the  hearts  of  his  chil 
dren's  children ;  for  Iowa  is  destined  to  be  the  most  densely 
populated  State  in  the  Union. 

"  How  often  has  the  thought  passed  through  my  mind, 
while  rambling  over  these  fertile  plains,  of  the  thousands 
of  human  beings  whose  lot  has  been  cast  in  more  sterile 
lands,  bound  down  by  oppression  and  servitude  !  What 
happiness  could  be  offered  to  the  starving  millions  of  the 
Old  World,  could  the  ill-gotten  treasures  of  tyrants  be  con 
verted  to  their  use,  and  the  uncultivated  wastes,  that  now 
are  only  kept  for  the  use  of  a  few  wandering  tribes  of 
Indians,  were  made  the  abodes  of  civilized  men !  The 
onward  progress  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  will  soon  open 
these  vast  resources  for  the  benefit  of  man;  and  I  be 
lieve  that  many  of  us  now  upon  the  stage  of  action,  will 
see  these  fertile  vales  teeming  with  their  ten  thousand  flocks, 
and  hear  from  the  happy  cottages  the  general  anthem  of 
thanksgiving  and  praise,  amid  these  beautiful  glens  and 
dales,  until  the  prolonged  note  shall  sigh  upon  the  Rocky 
Mountain's  top,  and  the  echo  be  heard  along  the  Shores  of 
the  Pacific  Ocean." 


INSTRUCTIONS    TO    NEW-COMERS 


CHAPTER   XL 

INSTRUCTIONS  TO  THE  NEW-COMER  RESPECTING  THE  SE 
LECTION,  ENTRY,  OR  PURCHASE  AND  CULTIVATION  OP 
PRAIRIE  LANDS. 

THE  purchaser  from  Government,  if  he  be  a  stranger  in 
the  country,  must  first  go  to  the  Land-office  of  the  District 
in  which  lie  the  lands  that  he  intends  to  enter.  There  are 
in  Iowa  nine  Land-offices,  each  of  which  represents  several 
counties.  At  either  of  these  the  immigrant  will  be  fur 
nished  with  small  township  maps,  showing  all  the  vacant 
or  unentered  lands,  up  to  the  date  of  application.  With 
these  he  repairs  to  the  spot ;  but,  without  the  aid  of  a  sur 
veyor,  or  some  person  who  understands  the  mode  of  govern 
ment  surveys,  he  will  be  totally  unprepared  to  make  selections, 
as  the  "  metes  and  bounds"  upon  the  prairie,  or  marked  trees 
of  the  forest,  will  be  all  Greek  to  him.  He  may  gaze  upon 
the  goodly  land,  but  for  him  to  know  what  township,  range,  or 
section,  or  any  parts  thereof,  he  is  on,  will  be  found  impos 
sible.  He  cannot  transcribe  the  hieroglyphics  before  him. 
The  numbers  must  be  carefully  noted  by  one  who  knows, 
and  who  will  accompany  the  immigrant  to  the  Land-office ; 
there  he  makes  hir  application  to  the  Registrar,  receives  a 
certificate  of  application,  and  then  presents  the  same  to 
the  Receiver ;  pays  in  specie,  or  with  his  warrant,  or  Vir- 


72  INSTRUCTIONS    TO     NEW-COMERS. 

ginia  land-script,  and  receives  a  duplicate  receipt  as  having 
paid  for  such  a  tract  of  land,  and,  in  the  course  of  one  or 
two  years,  he  presents  his  receipt  to  the  same  office,  and 
receives  a  patent  from  government;  his  duplicate  receipt, 
however,  is  a  sufficient  warrantee  for  him  to  sell  and  convey 
the  land,  and  is  valid  in  law. 

To  enter  upon  and  settle  these  lands,  is  the  next  thing 
for  the  immigrant.  He  first  erects  a  small  cabin  of  boards, 
or  perhaps  of  logs,  sufficient  to  shield  himself  and  family 
from  "  the  pitiless  peltings  of  the  storm,"  and,  with  eyes 
often  beaming  with  gladness,  enters  with  great  alacrity 
upon  the  thousand  and  one  little  works  of  necessity  and 
mercy  for  the  comfort  and  security  of  man  and  beast; 
while  the  enormous  prairie  plow  is  set  in  motion  by  one 
whose  business  it  is  to  "brcafc  prairie"  at  $2-25  per  acre. 
This  large  machine  is,  to  the  new-comer,  a  curiosity :  it  is, 
in  all  respects,  like  other  plows,  but  much  larger  in  size ; 
being  10  feet  long,  and  cutting  a  furrow  of  some  22  to  24 
inches  in  width.  The  fore-end  of  the  beam  rests  upon  an 
axle,  with  wheels,  one  of  which  runs  in  the  furrow  and 
guages  the  width,  acting  like  the  wheel  of  the  locomotive 
upon  the  rail.  A  lever  is  attached  to  the  fore-end  of  the 
beam,  running  back  to  the  handles,  which  regulates  the 
depth  of  furrow,  and  throws  the  plow  out  when  desired. 
When  the  plow  is  once  set  in,  it  needs  no  further  attention 
in  good  prairie,  as  it  runs  alone,  and  the  driver  has  only  to 
attend  to  his  team,  which  consists  of  some  five  yoke  of 
oxen.  The  roots  of  the  wild  grass  are  much  longer  and 
harder  to  break  than  the  tame.  It  is  considered  best  to 


INSTRUCTIONS    TO    NEW-COMERS.  73 

break  the  ground  as  shallow  as  possible,  or  only  to  cut  a 
sufficient  depth  to  turn  over  the  roots  of  grass ;  the  soil 
under  it  being  very  loose,  and  the  thinner  the  sod,  the 
sooner  it  will  rot.  Often  the  farmer  sends  his  boys  to  drop 
corn  along  every  third  or  fourth  furrow ;  and  corn  is  thus 
produced,  with  no  further  care,  yielding  30  bushels  to  the 
acre.  The  next  season  the  sod  is  well  rotted,  and  the  ground 
in  prime  order  for  wheat.  In  the  meantime,  the  immigrant 
encloses  his  fields,  either  with  sawed  lumber  or  rails,  as  cir 
cumstances  will  permit,  erects  his  dwelling,  and  begins  his 

"  Life  on  the  prairie  green, 
A  home  on  the  boundless  waste  !" 

The  soil  is  ready  to  till,  and  but  few  weeds  grow  for  the 
first  two  or  three  years.  As  I  have  before  said,  corn  is 
planted  and  grown  without  using  the  hoe :  the  horse  and 
plow  do  the  cultivating. 

The  Realities  of  a  Pioneer  Lift  —  Obstacles  to  be   Sur 
mounted —  The  Reward  in  Store. 

These  are  but  faint  outlines  of  opening  a  farm  in  the 
West.  The  immigrant  will  find  trials  and  hardships 
spring  up  around,  unlooked  for  in  the  old  settlement.  He 
will  find  that  his  ability  to  labor  is  not  as  great  in  his  new, 
unacclimated  home,  as  where  he  came  from  :  the  scarcity 
of  labor,  the  distance  from  towns,  villages,  and  market,  will 
throw  obstacles  in  the  way  of  his  progress,  and  he  may 
very  naturally  expect,  in  a  change  of  climate,  sickness  in 
his  family;  and  "  the  ills  that  life  is  heir  to,"  will,  perhap?, 
7 


74  SKETCHES    ON   IOW A. 

tread  closely  upon  his  heels,  and  often  make  him  sigh  for 
" the  leelas  and  the  garlics"  he  left  behind  him.  There 
is  no  fancy  work  in  a  frontier  life,  except  to  him  who  is 
weaned  from  the  world  at  an  early  age,  and  assumes  the 
life  of  a  savage.  It  may  do  for  the  intelligent  and  enter 
prising  of  our  eastern  cities  to  build  for  themselves  fancied 
cottages  upon  our  western  lands  while  they  are  gorged  with 
the  pleasures  of  a  city  life ;  but  the  stern  reality  of  a  fron 
tier  life  will  not  be  all  sunshine  and  happiness ;  there  is 
labor  to  be  done  to  enjoy  it;  there  is  care  and  toil,  priva 
tions  and  sufferings,  universally  attendant  upon  any  one's 
settlement  in  the  new  portions  of  the  West ;  and  he  who 
leaves  the  luxuries  of  the  East  and  moves  to  the  West, 
expecting  to  realize  the  fancied  sketches  of  rural  felicity, 
will  be  most  sadly  disappointed.  But  let  him  surmount 
these  obstacles,  and  he  can  make  himself  a  home  that  will 
yield  him  a  rich  and  lasting  harvest. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

SKETCHES  BY  TRAVELLING  CONTRIBUTORS— A 
STRANGER'S  IMPRESSIONS,  ETC. 

THE  following  graphic  description  of  the  interior  of  the 
State  is  from  "Sketches  on  Iowa,"  contributed  by  Mrs. 
Frances  D.  Gage  to  the  New  York  Tribune,  in  the  summer 
of  1854 : 


SKETCHES    ON    IOWA.  75 

"Trip  from  Burlington  to  Oskaloosa — Impressions  upon, 
and  Expressions  by,  Explorers  of  Iowa. 

"I  have  just  risen  from  the  perusal  of  a  long  and  inte 
resting  letter  from  '  Our  Own  Reporter/  to  The  Tribune, 
dated  St.  Paul,  June  8th;  1854,  and  have  responded  '  True ' 
to  all  the  glowing  descriptions  of  the  beauty,  fertility,  and 
magnitude  of  the  country  bordering  upon  the  Upper  Mis 
sissippi  ;  and  feeling  that  the  beauty,  fertility,  and  excel 
lence  of  the  interior,  are  fully  equal,  if  not  superior, 
to  the  borders,  I  am  impelled  to  give  you  a  few  jottings  by 
the  way  of  a  journey  just  ended,  from  Burlington  to  Oska- 
loosa,  and  thence  back  to  Keokuk.  We  had  no  great 
party  to  give  eclat  to  our  goings  or  comings ;  no  music  nor 
dancing,  no  celebrations,  no  festivals  nor  feasting,  to  gild 
with  rainbow  hues  the  surrounding  landscape ;  but  of  speech- 
making  we  had  plenty,  and  an  endless  variety ;  as  good  and 
sensible,  too,  perhaps,  as  if  spoken  by  lips  quivering  with 
the  excitement  of  pride,  ambition,  or  sparkling  Catawba, 
and  falling  upon  ears  as  capable  of  appreciation,  as  those 
dulled  by  hurry,  sensuality,  bustle,  and  fatigue.  My  busi 
ness  was  to  lecture  on  Temperance  and  '  Woman's  Rights' 
to  the  people,  and  of  course  I  had  time,  in  my  few  days  of 
leisure  at  the  towns  by  the  way,  to  learn  somewhat  of  the 
country;  and  changing  my  travelling  companions  every 
few  miles  of  my  journey  brought  me  in  contact  with  all 
classes  and  kinds  of  people,  from  the  immovable  Dutchman 
to  the  cute  Yankee  speculator;  and  from  stage-coach 
speeches  we  will  draw  our  ideas  of  the  impression  made 


76  SKETCHES    ON    IOWA. 

upon  the  explorers  by  this  interesting  country.  'Well, 
this  is  e'en-a-jest  the  garden  of  Eden,  anyhow !'  broke  out 
an  old  man  from  Maine,  who  had  been  studying  the  land 
scape  for  some  hours  in  silence.  He  was  '  hunting  homes 
for  his  boys/ 

"' Bless  my  stars,  mother,  look  at  that!'  exclaimed  a 
loquacious  New-Yorker  to  his  better-half,  who  seemed  look 
ing  back,  like  Lot's  wife,  to  the  worn-out  lands  of  Oswego. 
t  Do  n't  that  make  your  mouth  water?  These  corn-fields 
look  as  if  fifty  years  old ;  not  a  stump  nor  a  stone.  Look 
at  that  fellow  plowing.  His  horse  walks  as  if  he  had  no 
thing  behind  him.  What  a  furrow  he  rolls  up  !  soft  as  a 
garden-plat,  rich  as  a  stable-yard/ 

"'I'll  give  it  up/  says  a  stately  Canadian.  'I  have 
been  looking  all  the  way  from  Paris,  in  Canada,  through 
Ohio,  Illinois,  and  Wisconsin  for  something  better,  and  it, 
has  grown  better  all  the  way;  but  better  than  this  is  no 
use:  I'll  give  it  up.  Come,  wife,  let's  get  out  and  go 
back.  You  wanted  clear  streams,  and  here  they  are.  I 
wanted  timber,  stone,  and  prairie,  and  I've  found  them  all. 
Let 's  go  back,  gather  up  the  chicks,  and  come  to  Iowa.' 

"  '  They  tell'd  us  this  wus  little  the  puttyest  place  this 
side  o'  sundown,  but  I  thought  it  half  gas ;  but  by  shucks 
they  didn't  tell  half  on't.  Uncle  Nate  told  us  we'd 
never  want  to  go  back  to  Monroe/ 

"  '  I  reckon  we  won't  neither,'  says  a  stout  young  man  to 
his  cherry-cheeked  wife ;  putting  his  hand,  at  the  same 
time,  near  a  side-pocket,  where,  probably,  the  treasure  was 
secreted  that  was  to  purchase  a  new  home. 


SKETCHES     ON     IOWA.  77 

"' Magnificent — grand — beautiful!'  ejaculated  the  gen 
tleman  in  gloves,  with  the  linen  coat  over  his  broadcloth ; 
' these  lands  will  be  worth  ten  dollars  an  acre  in  five  years, 
every  rood  of  them.  Ten  years  will  make  this  country 
equal  to  the  most  favored  sections  of  New  York,  Pennsyl 
vania,  or  Ohio.  Look ;  is  not  that  splendid  ?  rolling  prairie, 
just  enough  to  drain  it;  vale,  hill,  woodland,  park,  lawn, 
grove,  meadow,  field,  shrubbery,  and  garden,  and  all  in 
luxuriant  bloom  and  beauty  from  Nature's  own  hand; 
brooks,  running  over  pebbly  beds,  gushing  springs,  or  wells 
easily  made,  of  clear  and  sparkling  water.  Is  it  not  beau 
tiful?' 

" '  Beautiful,  beautiful,  beautiful !'  echo  the  ladies. 

" ( Beau-ti-ful !'  answers  the  quail  from  the  topmost  rail 
of  that  stake-and-rider  fence  around  that  magnificent  field 
of  rye. 

"  *  Beau-t-iful,  beautiful !'  whistles  the  whippoorwill  at 
mid-day,  in  the  dark  grove  of  elms  and  oaks  by  the  way 
side.  He  had  only  changed  his  dolorous  note  to  suit  the 
sunshine. 

" '  Iowa  for  me  !'  says  the  young  wife. 

" '  Bright  and  beautiful  as  a  fairy  dream !'  says  the 
merry  maiden. 

"  ( Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen/  says  an  old  stranger  — 
old — he  had  been  ten  years  in  Iowa — <if  you  are  so  taken 
with  this,  just  hold  on.  Don't  cry  out  till  you  get  up 
about  Oskaloosa,  and  round  about  there ;  up  into  Mehaska, 
Marion,  Warren,  Lucas,  Monroe,  Madison,  and  so  on,  clear 
out  to  Council  Bluffs;  such  land  for  farming  is  not  any- 
7* 


78  SKETCHES    ON    IOWA. 

where  else  on  this  Continent  —  not  even  in  California — I 
have  seen  it  all.' 

1(1  Can't  beat  Clark,  Union,  Adams,  Montgomery,  and 
Mills,'  replies  another  voice. 

" l  Well,  gentlemen,  it  is  all  good ;  and  it  is  pretty  hard 
to  tell  which  is  best.' 

"  Such  is  the  tone  of  conversation  among  the  explorers 
of  this  new  country  on  the  steamers,  which  at  this  season 
navigate  the  Des  Moines  River,  and  in  the  coaches.  On 
roads  where,  three  years  ago,  a  coach  twice  a  week  was 
ample,  now,  two  lines  a  day  are  required,  and  six  or  seven 
coaches,  frequently,  to  carry  the  passengers. 

"Mount  Pleasant)  Fairfield,  Ottumwa,  Oskaloosa,  Knox- 
ville,  and  Pella — Groves  and  Parks — Fruit  and  Vege 
tables  —  Timber  —  Geology. 

'*  Mount  Pleasant  is  a  flourishing  town,  twenty-five  miles 
from  Burlington  (reached  by  a  plank  road),  contains  1200 
inhabitants,  and  will  have  a  railroad  through  it  in  less  than 
a  year — good  churches  and  good  people. 

"  Fairfield,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Jeflerson  County,  is 
twenty-five  miles  from  Mount  Pleasant.  Here  are  1500 
people,  and  everything  active,  vigorous,  and  progressive. 
Twenty-five  miles  further  on  is  Ottumwa,  built  upon  a  fine 
slope  on  the  Des  Moines.  It  has  been  a  little  stagnant  for 
a  year  or  two,  on  account  of  the  suspension  of  the  Des 
Moines  improvement,  which  is  now  about  to  be  renewed  by 
an  eastern  company,  and  will  be  speedily  completed ;  for 
when  any  country  demands  a  work  that  will  pay  as  well 


SKETCHES    ON    IOWA.  79 

as  this  will,  there  will  always  be  found  men  and  capital  to 
do  it.     Oskaloosa,  the  county-seat  of  Mahaska,  is  on  the 
prairie ;  the  Des  Moines  is  four  miles  distant,  upon  one  side, 
and  the  south  fork  of  Skunk  River  two  miles,  on  the  other. 
'it  is  thus  bordered  on  either  side  by  living  streams  and  heavy 
timber.     Ten  years  since,  it  was  made  the  seat  of  justice; 
then  a  place  where  a  few  settlers  had  reared  their  cabins, 
seeing,  with  prophetic  eye,  what  must  follow.     Now,  it  has 
from  2000  to  2500  inhabitants,  and  100  buildings,  it  is 
said,  will  be  erected  this  season.     Every  house  and  room 
is  full,  and  every  day  brings  new  accessions  to  their  num 
bers.     The  railroad  will  pass  through  this  beautiful  town 
in  less    than   two  years.     Knoxville,  the'   county-seat  of 
Marion,  is  a  village  of  1500  inhabitants.     Pella,  where  a 
colony  of  Hollanders  located  six  or  eight  years  ago,  near 
the  border  of  Marion,  has  now  its  600  people.     A  conven 
tion  was  there  held  the  last  week  in  May,  and  arrangements 
made  for  erecting  a  College  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Baptist   denomination.     At  Oskaloosa,  they  have   now  a 
Normal  School.     At  Fairfield  and  Mount  Pleasant,  Female 
Seminaries  and  Colleges  are  in  process  of  erection.     The 
dwellers  in  the  East  have,  as  yet,  no  conception  of  this 
beautiful  State,  its  present  improvements,  its  progress,  or 
its  resources. 

"  The  prairies  are  high  and  rolling,  and  bordered  with 
timber.  In  many  places  Nature  seems  to  have  laid  out  the 
farm  expressly  for  man's  use,  and  cleared  the  meadow, 
corn-field,  and  orchard,  leaving  no  stump,  tree,  or  bush  to 
interfere  with  the  plow,  covering  it  with  deep  and  matted 


80  SKETCHES    ON    IOW A.. 

roots  of  grass  to  preserve  the  soil  and  enrich  it  for  future 
use.  Groves  and  parks  surround  it  ;  running  streams  and 
brooks,  rippling  merrily  over  pebbles  and  sand,  refresh  it ; 
shrubbery  and  underbrush  supply  the  new  beginners  with 
rich  fruits  —  plums  of  fine  quality,  resembling  the  apricot, 
wild  cherries,  gooseberries,  smooth  and  large,  blackberries, 
raspberries,  strawberries,  grapes;  all  of  superior  quality  to 
those  growing  wild  in  the  middle  States,  and  in  quantities 
inexhaustible.  Potatoes,  both  sweet  and  Irish,  are  very 
fine;  corn,  magnificent;  and  all  agree  in  one  thing  —  that 
one-half  of  the  labor  will  produce  a  better  crop  than  in  the 
farming  lands  of  Ohio. 

"  Here,  then,  by  the  side  or  under  the  cover  of  one  of 
those  rare  old  groves,  the  farmer  may  make  his  home, 
break  up  his  prairie  land,  and  in  three  years  have  his  farm 
under  better  cultivation  than  in  hilly  woodland  countries  in 
fifteen.  Apple  and  peach  trees  come  to  maturity  very  soon, 
and  good  nurseries  are  now  to  be  found  in  many  places. 
At  Pella  there  is  a  very  fine  one,  as  well  as  a  garden, 
owned  by  the  learned  and  gentlemanly  Mr.  Scottel,  who 
takes  great  pleasure  in  giving  information  to  travellers. 
Timber,  such  as  oak,  walnut,  hickory,  maple,  elm,  and  ash, 
is  abundant.  There  are  few  large  prairies  —  five  or  six 
.miles  is  the  widest,  oftener  one  or  two,  and  still  oftener  less. 
Limestone,  freestone,  and  stone-coal,  without  stint,  and  hero 
and  there  quarries  of  a  species  of  beautiful  marble,  made 
of  marine  deposits  and  shells,  are  found.  Every  necessary 
or  comfort  of  life  is  here  produced,  or  may  be  produced 
without  difficulty  or  expense. 


SKETCHES     ON     IOWA.  81 

"The  Des  Moines  River  Improvement — Napoleon,  Farm- 
ington,  Keosauqua — The  People  of  Iowa — Her  Laics — 
The  most  Progressive  and  best  Improved  State  in  the 
Union — Advice  to  Eastern  People — Iowa  the  Eden  of 
America. 

"The  Des  Moines  River  improvement  offers  great  facili 
ties  for  mills  and  manufactories,  and  the  towns  already 
started,  where  dams  have  been  erected,  give  evidence  of  a 
prosperous  future.  At  Napoleon  may  be  found  a  woolen 
factory,  with  men  and  women  busily  engaged  in  doing  good 
work.  Their  machinery  is  very  good,  but  they  have  but 
just  begun.  A  flour-mill,  too,  gives  out  its  cheerful  hum. 
Farmington  is  a  pleasant  town,  twenty-five  miles  from 
Keokuk.  Here  a  fine  bridge  spans  the  Des  Moines,  lead 
ing  the  way  to  Keosauqua,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Van  Buren 
County,  also  a  flourishing  village.  But  I  might  fill  columns, 
and  yet  not  get  to  the  end  of  these  flourishing  new  towns, 
springing  up,  as  it  were,  by  magic,  between  night  and 
morning. 

"But  the  people — what  of  the  people?  exclaim  your 
readers;  what  are  they?  Shall  I  say  what  I  think?  The 
people  are  the  strong,  earnest,  energetic,  right-thinking  and 
right-feeling  people  of  the  land.  Its  founders  must  have 
been  wiser  than  most  men,  or  they  would  not  in  the  begin 
ning  have  recognised  all  grog-shops  as  nuisances,  and  have 
made  the  vender  of  ardent  spirits  liable  for  his  own  transgres 
sions.  They  must  have  been  more  just  than  common  men, 
or  they  would  not  at  first  have  secured  the  property  rights 


82  SKETCHES    ON    IOWA. 

of  the  wife,  and  made  her  the  joint  guardian,  with  her 
husband,  of  her  children.  They  must  have  been  men 
more  humane  than  common,  or  they  would  not  have  secured 
the  homestead  to  the  family.  These  good  laws  have  led 
those  of  other  States  who  wish  to  be  wise,  just,  and  humane, 
to  become  the  dwellers  of  this  fair  land.  Hence  I  hesitate 
not  to  say  that  it  is  the  most  moral  and  progressive,  as  well 
as  the  best-improved  State,  of  its  age,  in  all  our  country. 
The  people  of  the  East  must  cease  to  think  of  Iowa  as 
1  way  out  Vfest.'  It  is  but  half  past  one  out  here  —  not 
yet  fashionable  dinner-time;  and  the  people  who  last  year, 
or  last  week,  or  even  day  before  yesterday,  left  New  Eng 
land,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  or  Ohio,  with  the  last 
Harper  or  Putnam  in  their  pocket,  the  last  Tribune  in 
their  hand,  the  last  fashion  on  their  heads  and  shoulders, 
and  the  last  reform  in  their  hearts,  are  very  much  the  same 
people  in  Iowa  that  their  neighbors  found  them  at  home, 
only  that  a  new  country,  log  cabins,  and  little  deprivations 
call  out  all  their  latent  powers,  cultivate  the  fallow  grounds 
of  heart  and  feelings,  make  them  more  free,  more  earnest, 
more  charitable ;  in  fact,  expand,  enlarge,  and  fit  them  all 
the  better  for  life  and  its  duties.  Why  will  people  live 
pent  up  in  cities,  amid  the  dust,  and  smoke,  and  din,  while 
there  is  here  so  much  of  beauty,  freshness,  and  utility  un 
appropriated.  '  There  are  millions  of  hands  wanting  acres, 
and  millions  of  acres  wanting  hands/  True,  Iowa  may  be 
said  to  be  yet  in  its  log-cabinage,  but  what  of  that  ?  Ten 
years  ago,  the  farmer  of  Marion  went  sixty  miles  to  mill. 
What  now  ?  Steam  mills  are  at  their  very  doors.  Then, 


SKETCHES     ON     IOWA.  83 

as  my  sister  said,  for  weeks  I  saw  not  a  woman's  face.  Now, 
from  my  door,  I  count  the  friendly,  cheerful  smoke  of 
twenty  home-fires.  We  ate  and  slept  in  these  cabins. 
There  was  peace,  plenty,  and  cheerfulness. 

"  Not  one  —  not  one  desponding  wife  or  mother  did  we 
find ;  not  one  willing  to  go  back  and  live  in  the  old  States. 
1  Look/  they  would  exclaim,  '  at  our  corn,  our  young  or 
chard;  our  cows  are  so  fine,  our  chickens  are  almost  Shang 
hais,  our  gardens  astonish  us  ;  we  can  afford  to  live  cramped 
ourselves  for  houseroom  when  everything  else  expands  so 
fast.  We  shall  build  in  a  year  or  two,  when  we  get  our 
plans  laid."  Fourth-rate  lawyers,  doctors,  and  ministers 
will  do  well  to  remember  that  the  people  of  Iowa  have  not 
yet  forgotten  the  sound  of  the  voices  of  the  good  and  great 
they  have  left  behind.  Merchants  need  not  take  old  goods 
to  Iowa,  nor  faded  belles  flatter  themselves  that  last  year's 
fashions  will  answer.  'Anything'  won't  'do  out  West' 
any  more.  I  went,  with  other  ladies,  to  a  political  meeting 
at  Oskaloosa  to  hear  the  free-soil  Whig  nominee  for  Governor 
talk  to  the  dear  people.  The  men  looked  just  like  men 
elsewhere,  only  they  were  a  little  more  civil  and  genteel, 
and  did  not  make  quite  so  general  a  spittoon  of  the  Court- 
Ilouse ;  and  I  did  not  see  one  that  leaned  towards  drunk 
enness,  though  the  house  was  full.  I  went  to  church ;  fine 
astrals,  polished  walnut,  and  crimson  velvet  made  the  pulpit 
look  like  home ;  ladies  rustled  rich  brocades,  or  flitted  in 
lawns  as  natural  as  life.  The  only  point  of  difference  that 
struck  me  was,  that  their  bonnets,  with  a  few  exceptions, 
did  not  hang  so  exactly  upon  nothing  as  at  the  East;  pro- 


84  SKETCHES    ON     IOW  A. 

bably  because  there  was  less  of  nothing  to  hang  on.  Then 
rosy  cheeks,  sparkling  eyes,  and  free,  vigorous  steps,  were 
every-day  affairs.  Altogether,  the  women  were  very 
healthy ;  and  the  children,  poor  little  vulgar  things — taking 
after  their  mothers,  as  children  always  will  —  looked  a& 
though  they  had  all  the  air  and  sunshine  they  needed,  ana 
would  positively  be  so  unfashionable  as  to  live  (nine-tenths 
of  them)  through  the  second  summer,  and  be  men  and 
women,  despite  teething,  chin-coughs,  mumps,  and  measles. 

"  Burlington  and  Keokuk  are  important  towns,  but  too 
well  known  and  understood  in  their  infant  prosperity  to 
need  comment.  It  would  require  a  chapter  to  give  them 
their  due.  I  hope  your  reporter,  who  was  at  Keokuk 
while  we  were  there,  will  do  them  justice. 

"  To  sum  up  all,  this  is  the  most  beautiful  country  that 
I  have  ever  seen ;  and  when  the  hand  of  active  industry 
and  energy  has  overcome  the  difficulties  necessarily  attend 
ant  upon  a  new  country,  and  art  and  wealth  have  embel 
lished  what  nature  has  made  so  grand,  it  will  be,  as  the  old 
man  said,  'almost  the  garden  of  America.' '' 

A  STRANGER'S  IMPRESSIONS  OF  IOWA. 

The  following  was  communicated  to  the  Progressive  Era 
by  a  former  citizen  of  Illinois : 

"  It  is  only  within  a  few  weeks  that  I  became  an  unwill 
ing  resident  of  this  State.  I  say  unwilling,  because  the 
attachment  I  felt  for  my  native  State  and  its  institutions 
was  so  strong,  that  the  idea  of  severing  the  connection 
predisposed  me  to  disparage  the  advantages  of  that  State 


SKETCHES    ON    IOWA.  85 

which  was  to  cause  the  separation.  I  had  heard  glowing 
accounts  of  Iowa,  and,  though  interested  in  her  success, 
was  more  solicitous  for  the  welfare  of  Illinois,  and  some 
what  inclined  to  exaggerate  her  natural  advantages,  when 
compared  with  those  of  other  States.  I  knew  that  in  many 
parts,  as  a  farming  country,  Illinois  was  unexceptionable, 
and  that  the  natural  scenery  was  good;  indeed,  I  often 
thought  it  impossible  that  her  beautiful  rolling  prairies 
could  be  surpassed ;  but,  to  confess  the  truth,  so  far  as  I 
can  judge  of  the  natural  advantages  of  a  State  from  out 
ward  appearances,  I  must  give  Iowa  the  preference.  Every 
step  of  my  trip  through  the  State  has  contributed  some 
thing  to  the  formation  of  this  conclusion  in  spite  of  my 
resolve  to  be  displeased.  Even  now  a  glance  from  my 
window  discloses  a  scene  I  have  rarely  beheld  equalled : 
just  before  me  the  high,  rolling  prairie,  is  stretching  away 
for  miles,  and  rising  higher  and  higher  in  the  distance, 
until  the  green  of  its  bosom  afar  up  grows  dim,  and  seems 
almost  lost  in  the  blue  of  the  sky.  Flanking  the  prairie  on 
either  side,  and  cutting  across  in  various  directions,  are  large 
strips  of  timber,  which,  ten  years  ago,  were  the  homes  of  wild 
deer  and  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Indian.  Still  nearer, 
and  passing  through  our  beautiful  and  populous  village,  the 
Cedar  River  takes  its  way ;  as  lovely  and  romantic  a  stream 
as  any  to  which  Burns,  or  Campbell,  or  Moore  has  ever 
given  celebrity  in  verse,  nor  wanting  in  many  of  those 
thrilling  legends  which  have  heretofore  furnished  the  foun 
dations  of  some  of  our  best  poetical  effusions." 

The  following  is  from  a  series  of  letters  descriptive  of  a 
8 


86  SKETCHES     ON     IOWA. 

journey  from  Council  Bluffs  to  Keokuk,  by  Mr.  Barcom, 
former  editor  of  the  Ohio  State  Journal: 

"Fort  Des  Moines —  The  Davenport  Railroad — The  Des 
Moines  River  Improvement. 

"  Before  beginning  my  trip  westward,  I  took  the  map  of 
that  region,  and  studied  the  geography  of  the  country,  and 
the  locations  of  certain  towns,  with  reference  to  their  pro 
bable  future.  The  result  of  this  examination  was,  that 
from  their  natural  positions,  Fort  Des  Moines  was  destined 
to  be  the  greaty  city  in  central,  and  Council  Bluffs  the  great 
city  in  western  Iowa.  The  only  remaining  question  in  my 
mind  was,  whether  they  had  a  rich  fertile  country  about 
them,  that  would  back  up  and  support  a  city.  This  is 
indispensable,  and  to  this  question  I  paid  particular  atten 
tion.  In  other  letters  I  have  expressed  my  opinion  of  the 
future  of  Council  Bluffs.  I  am  now  ready  to  say  what  I 
think  of  Fort  Des  Moines. 

"  The  River  Des  Moines  is  the  great  river  of  Iowa.  It 
is  fully  as  large  as  the  Muskingum,  the  largest  river  in 
Ohio,  and  in  many  striking  particulars  reminds  me  of  that 
stream.  Rising  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  State,  it  tra 
verses  its  territory  to  the  extreme  southeast  corner.  About 
half  way  up  it,  and  where  the  Raccoon  River  intersects  it 
from  the  west,  the  city  of  Fort  Des  Moines  has  its  locality. 
Like  Pittsburg,  the  town  plat  is  on  a  beautiful  tract  of 
land,  being  the  point  or  tongue  between  these  two  rivers. 
Several  hundred  acres  of  level,  dry,  bottom-land,  afford  a 
fine  location  for  a  town.  The  hills  back  are  very  beautiful, 


SKETCHES    ON    IOWA.  87 

and  afford  many  most  charming  sites  for  residences.  On 
one  of  them,  a  fine  tract,  commanding  a  most  splendid 
view,  has  been  set  apart  by  the  proprietor  as  a  donation  for 
the  site  of  the  State  House  when  the  people  move  the 
capital  of  the  State  there,  as  they  will  undoubtedly  do  in 
due  time.  The  town  is  finely  laid  off.  The  lots  are  66 
feet  by  132.  The  streets  are  generally  80  feet  in  width. 
There  are  not  many  prominent  buildings  yet,  as  the  town 
is  quite  new.  It  has  been  but  two  or  three  years  since  it 
began  to  feel  its  importance,  and  to  start  in  its  career  to  a 
higher  position.  No  part  of  the  town  is  yet  compactly 
built ;  and  the  question  which  are  to  be  the  business  streets, 
appears  to  be  quite  as  much  an  open  one  as  it  is  at  Council 
Bluffs.  The  Davenport  Railroad  passes  through  this  place. 
It  is  to  cross  the  Des  Moines  on  a  substantial  bridge,  and 
continue  a  west  course,  through  the  north  of  the  centre  of 
the  town,  to  its  depot  grounds,  which  have  been  procured, 
and  which  are  ample  for  the  purpose.  Owners  of  property 
near  the  railroad  and  depot  think  that  it  is  to  be  the  seat 
of  future  business,  while  others,  holding  property  elsewhere, 
are  equally  certain  that  it  will  be  nearer  the  point.  Time 
alone  will  settle  the  dispute. 

"  Fort  Des  Moines  was  for  many  years  a  military  post  in 
the  midst  of  the  Indian  country,  and  it  is  only  within  a 
short  time  that  it  has  begun  to  improve.  It  has  about  the 
same  population  as  Council  Bluffs  —  from  1500  to  2000  — 
but  the  land-speculation  fever  rages  there  much  more 
severely  than  at  the  Bluffs.  City  lots  sell  high,  and  there 
is  quite  a  traffic  going  on  in  town  property,  out  lots,  &c. 


88  SKETCHES    ON    IOWA. 

Many  persons  go  there  to  invest,  but  leave,  thinking  that 
real  estate  is  entirely  beyond  its  value.  It  is  no  doubt 
true,  that  persons  who  would  otherwise  settle  and  build 
there  are  sometimes  driven  off  by  the  high  price  of  lots. 
When  I  presented  this  view  of  this  subject  to  some  of  the 
citizens,  the  answer  was,  l  How  can  we  help  it  ?  People 
from  abroad  come  here  and  offer  us  these  high  prices  for 
our  property.  It  is  their  fault;  not  ours/  I  confess  there 
was  plausibility  in  the  response,  but  it  did  not  in  the  least 
remove  the  difficulty. 

"  Fort  Des  Moines  has  an  abundance  of  timber  about  it ; 
also  good  building  stone,  of  lime  and  sand  formation.  It 
has  also  an  abundance  of  coal ;  and  the  soil  of  the  entire 
country  is  exceedingly  rich  and  productive.  It  has  about 
it  one  of  the  richest  farming  sections  of  the  State ;  and, 
with  all  these  advantages,  it  must  make  a  city  of  some  im 
portance.  The  railroads  of  the  Des  Moines  Valley  and  the 
Davenport  Road  make  it  a  point.  It  is  at  the  head  of 
navigation  on  the  Des  Moines.  Steamboats  ply  between 
here  and  Keokuk  during  several  months;  and  the  great 
work  of  improving  it  by  slack-water  navigation  is  again 
about  to  be  resumed.  It  requires  twenty-nine  dams  and 
locks ;  but  the  General  Government  has  appropriated  about 
a  million  acres  of  land,  and  a  company  of  energy  and  high 
character  have  undertaken  the  work.  I  think  Fort  Des 
Moines  is  destined  to  be  the  most  important  inland  town  of 
the  State/' 


RAILROADS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

RAILROADS. 

THERE  are  several  very  important  railroad  lines  projected, 
some  of  which  are  partly  under  contract,  and  others  of 
which  may  not  be  built  for  years.  Three  different  lines 
have  been  explored  and  surveyed,  commencing  at  Davenport, 
as  follows : 

One  from  Davenport,  through  Muscatine,  thence  through 
the  northern  part  of  Louisa  County,  and  through  "Wash 
ington,  Keokuk,  Mahaska,  Marion,  Warren,  Madison, 
Adair,  Adams,  and  Montgomery  Counties,  to  the  Missouri 
River,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Platte. 

Another  from  Davenport,  through  Scott,  Johnson,  Iowa, 
Powesheik,  Jasper,  Polk,  Dallas,  Guthrie,  Audubon,  and 
Shelby  Counties,  to  the  Missouri  River,  in  Pottawattamie 
County. 

A  third  line,  from  Muscatine,  through  Cedar  and  Lime 
Counties,  to  Cedar  Rapids,  with  a  view  to  the  further  con 
tinuation  of  the  line  northwestwardly,  into  the  Territory 
of  Minnesota. 

These  explorations  were  made  under  the  direction  of 
Henry  Farnam,  Chief  Engineer;  and  in  December,  1852, 
an  association  was  formed,  under  the  general  laws  of  Iowa. 
8* 


90  RAILROADS. 

The  routes  embraced  in  the  Articles  of  Association  are, 
a  line  from  Davenport,  by  way  of  Muscatine,  to  the  south 
ern  or  western  boundary  of  Iowa;  and  northwardly,  by 
way  of  Cedar  Rapids,  up  the  Cedar  Valley  to  the  north 
line  of  the  State  of  Iowa;  thus  combining,  in  one  organ 
ization,  a  system  of  railroads  for  central  Iowa,  whose  eastern 
terminus  shall  be  the  bridge  over  the  Mississippi  River  at 
Davenport.  Those  portions  of  these  roads  between  Daven 
port  and  Iowa  City,  and  between  Muscatine  and  Oskaloosa, 
are  under  contract,  and  will  be  ready  for  the  cars  sometime 
during  the  coming  summer.  The  line  from  Muscatine  to 
Cedar  Rapids  has  been  permanently  located,  and  that  por 
tion  of  it  which  forms  a  junction  with  the  Davenport  Road 
is  nearly  ready  for  the  cars;  so  that  Muscatine  will  be  in 
connection  with  the  main  line  to  New  York  City  as  soon 
as  the  track  is  laid  from  Davenport  to  the  junction. 

The  Chief  Engineer  says  of  the  country,  "  In  November 
last,  in  company  with  John  B.  Jervis,  Esq.,  Consulting 
Engineer,  James  Archibald,  Esq.,  a  distinguished  engineer, 
General  George  B.  Sargeant,  of  Davenport,  and  the  Hon. 
N.  B.  Judd,  of  Chicago,  I  passed  over  the  line  from  Iowa 
City  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  and  thence  down  the  '  divide ' 
between  the  Des  Moines  and  Skunk,  to  Oskaloosa,  and  from 
Oskaloosa,  through  Keokuk,  Washington,  and  Louisa 
Counties,  to  Muscatine.  The  whole  country  on  both  routes 
is  one  of  unsurpassed  beauty  and  fertility.  Since  then,  I 
have  passed  over  the  line  from  Muscatine  to  Cedar  Rapids. 
No  more  beautiful  or  productive  region  of  country  can  be 


RAILROADS.  91 

found  in  the  Union.  There  is  literally  no  waste  land  to  be 
found,  and  the  settlements  are  such  that  a  railroad  would 
be  immediately  productive.  The  entire  land  on  each  of 
the  routes  from  Davenport  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  from  Mus- 
catine  to  Oskaloosa,  and  from  Muscatine  to  Cedar  Rapids, 
has  been  all  purchased  of  the  Government,  and  the  State 
of  Iowa  is  settling  with  a  rapidity  unparalleled  in  the  history 
of  any  State." 

The  Mississippi  Bridge,  now  being  built  at  Davenport, 
connects  the  Chicago  and  Rock  Island,  and  the  Mississippi 
railroads ;  making  one  continuous  line,  without  interruption 
or  break  of  guage,  from  Chicago  to  the  Missouri  River. 
The  people  of  Iowa,  Western  Minnesota,  and  those  who 
are  to  cultivate  the  fertile  soil  of  Nebraska,  will  never  con 
sent  to  be  shut  out  from  the  Atlantic  and  the  great  "Western 
lakes  by  any  pretended  obstruction  which  a  bridge  built  on 
the  plan  proposed  may  offer.  The  bridge  will  span  the 
Mississippi  on  the  Rapids,  where  the  current  is  compressed 
to  a  narrow  space,  so  that  boats,  to  strike  the  piers  on 
either  side,  would  first  have  to  surmount  rocks  which  Na 
ture  has  had  fixed  as  impediments  to  navigation  for  centu 
ries,  and  of  which  the  proposed  improvement  of  the  Rapids 
does  not  contemplate  the  removal.  Simply  a  skeleton 
railroad  bridge,  the  draw  will  always  be  up,  save  when  the 
cars  are  actually  crossing ;  which  never  can  occur  when  a 
steamboat  is  passing,  except  by  the  grossest  negligence. 
For  the  reasons  thus  concisely  given,  we  argue  that  this 
bridge  will  prove  no  obstruction  to  the  navigation  of  the 
river. 


92  RAILROADS. 

The  estimated  cost  of  the  before-mentioned  lines,  for 
grading  and  bridging,  track  superstructure,  equipments, 
station  buildings,  engineering  and  contingencies,  are  as  fol 
lows: 

Division.  Dist.  Miles.  Cost.  per  Mite. 

Davenport  to  Iowa  City 54-92     $1,516,790-00  $27,618-00 

Iowa  City  to  Fort  Des  Moines  119-00       3,554,870-00  29,873.00 

Muscatine  to  Oskaloosa 95-27      2,557,500-00  26,845.00 

Muscatine  to  Cedar  Rapids..     62-64      1,493,250-00  23,839.00 

Making,  in  the  aggregate,  $9,122,410-00 

Several  other  railroad  lines  are  proposed,  and  in  part 
under  contract,  which  we  will  mention  : 

The  Burlington  and  Missouri  River  Railroad,  being  a 
continuation  of  the  Chicago  and  Burlington  Railroad, 
passes  west,  through  the  centres  of  Henry,  Jefferson,  Wa- 
pello,  Monroe,  Lucas,  Clarke,  Union,  Adams,  Montgomery, 
and  Mills  Counties,  striking  the  Missouri  opposite  the 
mouth  of  the  Big  Platte,  or  Nebraska  River,  some  twenty- 
five  miles  below  Council  Bluffs.  This  road  is  under  con 
tract  to  Wapello  County,  and  the  prospects  of  an  early 
completion  are  good.  Burlington  has  recently  had  railroad 
connection  with  Chicago,  "  through  by  daylight." 

The  Lyons  Central  Railroad,  a  continuation  of  the  Chi 
cago  Air  Line  Railroad,  passes  west  from  Lyons,  through 
Clinton  and  Cedar  Counties,  to  Iowa  City,  in  Johnson 
County,  where  it  connects  with  the  Mississippi  and  Mis 
souri  Railroad.  This  road  was  all  under  contract,  and  con 
siderable  work  done  at  different  points;  but  its  progress 
has  been  suspended  for  some  months.  We  understand  that 


RAILROADS.  93 

a  new  company  has  resumed  the  enterprise,  and  are  hasten 
ing  it  to  an  early  completion. 

The  Northern  Iowa  Railroad,  a  continuation  of  the  Il 
linois  Central,  is  projected  from  Dubuque  west,  through  the 
Counties  of  Dubuque,  Delaware,  Buchanan,  Blackhawk, 
Grundy,  Hardin,  Webster,  Calhoun,  Sac,  Ida,  and  Wood- 
bury,  striking  the  Missouri  at  Floyd's  Bluffs,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Big  Sioux  River.  A  branch  of  this  road  is  also 
projected  to  run  from  Delhi,  in  Delaware  County,  north, 
through  Clayton,  Fayette,  and  Winnesheik,  to  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota. 

A  line  connecting  with  the  Chicago  and  Mississippi  Rail 
road  (which  reaches  the  Missouri  in  Carroll  County,  Illi 
nois),  is  projected  to  pass  through  Jackson,  Jones,  Linn, 
Benton,  Tama,  Marshall,  Story,  Boone,  Greene,  Carroll,  and 
Crawford,  striking  the  Missouri  in  Mahona  County. 

A  line  running  as  a  continuation  of  the  North  Missouri 
Railroad  enters  the  State  in  Davis  County,  passing  through 
Appanoose,  Lucas,  and  Warren,  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  cross 
ing  the  Burlington  and  Missouri  Railroad  at  Chariton,  the 
Muscatine  and  Platte  Valley  Railroad  at  Indianolo,  and 
connecting  with  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Railroad  at 
Fort  Des  Moines.  A  portion  of  this  road  is  under  contract, 
and  we  are  informed  will  be  pushed  through  as  rapidly  as 
circumstances  will  admit  A  branch  of  this  line  leaves 
Fort  Madison,  passing  through  Lee,  Van  Buren,  and  Davis, 
connecting  with  the  Northern  Missouri  and  Des  Moines 
Railroad  in  Appanoose  County. 

The  Des  Moines  Valley  Railroad  is  to  leave  the  Missis- 


94  RAILROADS. 

sippi  at  Keokuk,  passing  through  Lee,  Van  Buren,  Jeffer 
son,  "Wapello,  Mahaska,  Marion,  and  Jasper,  to  Fort  Des 
Moines,  there  connecting  with  two  east  and  west  lines. 
This  is  considered  by  many  as  being  one  of  the  most  im 
portant  routes,  as  the  Des  Moines  Yalley,  in  mineral  and 
'agricultural  productions,  is  the  richest  valley  in  the 
State. 

Another  line,  as  a  continuation  of  the  Philadelphia  and 
Fort  Wayne  Air  Line  Kailroad,  to  leave  the  Mississippi 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Iowa  River,  passing  through  Louisa 
and  Washington  Counties,  connecting  at  Washington  with 
the  Muscatine  and  Oskaloosa  Railroad,  has  been  proposed. 

A  preliminary  survey  has  been  made  of  a  railroad  from 
Keokuk  to  Davenport,  via  Montrose,  West  Point,  Mount 
Pleasant,  Columbus  City,  and  Muscatine;  the  entire  dis 
tance  being  70  f  miles.  The  estimated  cost  of  this  road, 
including  furniture,  depots,  fencing,  &c.,  is  $1,911,934. 
This  is  one  of  the  many  roads  which  will  seek  the  bridge 
at  Davenport  as  the  Mississippi  crossing. 

We  doubt  not  that  those  railroad  lines  penetrating  into 
the  State,  which  are  continuations  of  roads  from  the  East 
and  South,  will  be  pushed  forward  to  an  early  completion. 

The  construction  of  the  several  roads  reaching  from  Chi 
cago  towards  the  Mississippi  River  demonstrates  that  rail 
roads  may  be  constructed  through  a  country  of  prairie  on 
the  line  of  emigration,  and  yield  a  profit  as  soon  and  as  far 
as  opened.  The  receipts  of  the  Chicago  and  Rock  Island 
Road  from  the  10th  of  July  to  the  10th  of  January 
were  $710,688-86.  Running  expenses  for  the  same  time, 


or 


RAILROADS.  95 

$440,764-86;  leaving  a  balance  of  $270,894.  The  whole 
number  of  passengers  passing  over  the  road  for  the  five 
months  ending  December  1st,  amounted  to  168,824;  total 
amount  of  freight  transported  during  the  same  time,  49,734 
tons. 

We  give  the  statistics  of  this  road,  because  it  was  the 
first  which  reached  the  Mississippi,  and  reliable  facts  could 
be  more  easily  obtained.  Nor  is  this  railroad  an  exception 
— each  of  the  Chicago  and  Mississippi,  and  the  Galena  and 
Chicago  lines,  pay  well  as  far  as  completed. 

The  Mississippi  Railroad  Bridge. 

The  great  Railroad  Bridge  crossing  the  Mississippi  at 
Davenport  is  steadily  progressing,  and  the  greater  part  of 
the  masonry  is  completed.  Its  entire  length  will  be  5832 
feet,  consisting  of  spans  of  250  feet  each,  exclusive  of 
bearings.  The  river  is  divided  into  two  channels  at  this 
point  by  the  beautiful  isle,  Rock  Island.  The  main  channel 
is  on  the  Iowa  side,  the  second  channel  upon  the  Illinois 
side  of  the  river.  That  portion  of  the  bridge  over  the 
main  channel  is  1583  feet  in  length.  The  circular-shaped 
draw-pier,  which  stands  near  the  centre  of  this  channel,  is 
40  feet  in  height,  46  feet  in  diameter  at  the  foundation, 
and  37  at  the  top. 

On  each  side  of  the  draw-pier  is  a  draw  of  120  feet,  * 
working  on  the  rotary  principle ;  making,  in  all,  a  clear 
space  of  240  feet  for  the  passage  of  river  craft.     These 
draws  are  open  at  all  times,  save  when  a  train  is  due;  and 


96  RAILROADS. 

even  in  that  case,  if  a  boat  is  in  sight,  it  will  have  the 
preference. 

The  average  height  of  the  bridge  is  30  feet  above  low 
water. 

Besides  the  draw-pier,  there  are  five  others.  These  are 
oblong  in  shape,  and  measure,  at  their  base,  57  feet  by  16 
to  18 ;  at  their  top,  24  feet  by  7  to  10. 

There  are  two  abutments,  one  on  the  island  and  one  on 
the  Iowa  shore,  containing  together  about  six  thousand 
yards  of  masonry. 

This  bridge  connects  with  a  huge  embankment,  built 
over  the  lower  point  of  the  island,  which  lies  very  low, 
containing  125,000  cubic  yards  of  earth,  and  costing  forty 
thousand  dollars.  At  the  west  end,  this  embankment  con 
nects  with  another  bridge,  of  less  dimensions,  over  the  Il 
linois  channel  of  the  Mississippi.  This  lesser  bridge  has 
two  piers,  and  three  spans,  of  150  feet  each,  all  constructed 
in  the  same  style,  and  upon  the  same  principle,  as  those 
of  the  bridge  over  the  main  channel. 

The  entire  length  of  the  two  bridges  and  the  intervening 
embankment  is  5,832  feet.  The  cost  of  the  entire  work 
will  be  $260,000.  The  bridges  are  being  built  for  a  single 
track.  Their  wooden  work  will  be  of  pine  and  oak.  Mr. 
John  Warner  has  the  contract  for  the  masonry  and  grading, 
and  Messrs.  Stone  and  Boomer  for  the  superstructure.  The 
contractors  are  all  energetic  men,  and  are  doing  the  work 
with  the  utmost  fidelity.  The  bridges  are  built  according 
to  Howe's  improved  patent,  and  when  completed  will  be 
models  of  strength  and  beauty. 


DISTANCES    BY    RAIL    ROAD.  97 

This  Great  Bridge  has  naturally  attracted  attention  from 
every  part  of  the  Union.  The  design  is  indeed  a  colossal 
one,  and  one  which  can  only  be  accomplished  by  men  of 
stout  hearts  and  of  iron  nerve.  For  many  long  years  the 
Mississippi  has  been  considered  an  insuperable  obstacle  to 
the  continuity  of  all  great  thoroughfares,  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific.  Happily  for  the  best  interests  of  the  West, 
and  indeed,  the  whole  world  of  commerce,  a  rare  combina 
tion  of  natural  facilities  at  this  point,  of  the  resources  of 
modern  science,  of  eastern  capital,  and  of  western  enter 
prise,  has  made  the  project  practicable,  and  insured  its  com 
pletion  within  the  present  year.  Its  opening  will  mark  a 
new  era  in  the  history  of  Commerce,  and  in  the  annals  of 
the  Great  West. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

RAILROAD  DISTANCES   ON   THE  VARIOUS  LINES,  CONNECT 
ING   CHICAGO   WITH   THE    STATE    OP   IOWA. 


CHICAGO  AND    ROCK    ISLAND 

RAIL  ROAD. 
From  Chicago  to  Miles. 

Junction 6 

Blue  Island 9 

Bremen 8 

Mokena 6 

Joliet 11 

Minooka 10 

Morris 11 

9 


Seneca 10 

Marseilles 5 

Ottawa 8 

Utica.. 9 

La  Salle 5 

(111.  Central  RR.  crosses). 

Peru l 

Trenton 10 

Bureau  Junction 4 

Tiskilwa 9 


98 


DISTANCES    BY    RAIL    ROAD. 


Pond  Creek 6 

Sheffield 10 

Anawan 7 

Geneseo 13 

Colona 10 

Moline 10 

Rock  Island...  3 


Total 181 

Davenport   opposite    side 
of  River. 

CHICAGO,     BURLINGTON  AND 

QUINOY  RAIL  ROAD. 
From  Chicago  to  Miles. 

Oak  Ridge 8 

Cottage  Hill 8 

Babcock's  Grove 4 

Danby 2 

Wheaton 3 

Winfield 2 

Junction 3 

Batavia 6 

Aurora 7 

Montgomery , 3 

Oswego 2 

Bristol 3 

Piano 6 

Newark 5 

Somonauk 3 

Waverly 6 

Earl 7 

Mendota 11 

(Crosses  Illinois  Central). 

Arlington 9 

Dover 7 

Princeton 6 

Wyariet 6 

French  Grove , 6 


Nephonset , 7 

Kewanee 7 

Galoy 8 

Walnut 8 

Wataga 8 

Galesburg. ,...  8 

Monmouth 8 

Young  America 8 

Miss.  River,  opposite  Bur 
lington IS 


Total 


203 


DISTANCES   ON   THE   CHICAGO 

AND  DIXON  RAIL  ROAD. 
From  Chicago  to  Miles. 

Oak  Ridge 8 

Cottage  Hill 8  16 

Babcock's  Grove 4  20 

Danby 2  22 

Wheaton 3  25 

Winfield 2  27 

Junction 3  30 

Geneva 5  35 

Blackberry 9  44 

Lodi 6  50 

Courtland 5  55 

De  Kalb 3  58 

Dement 8  66 

Lane 6  72 

Ogle 8  80 

Franklin 7  87 

Taylor 4  91 

Dixon 4  95 

A  continuation  of  this 
line,  called  the  Missis 
sippi  and  Rock  River 
Junction  RR.  is  in  pro 
gress  of  construction, 


DISTANCES    BY    RAIL    ROAD. 


99 


nnd  "will  probably  be 
completed  this  season. 
The  stations  thereon 
are: 

Sterling, 

Unionville, 

Fulton 36 

Making  a  distance  of,  say,  131 
miles  from  Chicago  to  the  Mis 
sissippi  River  by  this  route. 

DISTANCE  ON  THE  GALENA  AND 

CHICAGO  RAIL  ROAD. 
From  CMcago  to  Miles. 

Junction  (See  foregoing 

table)  30 

Wayne 5       35 

Clinton 4      39 

Elgin 3       42 

Gilbert's 8       50 

Huntley's 5       55 

Union 7      62 


Marengo 4      66 

Garden  Prairie 6       72 

Belvidere 6       78 

Cherry  Valley 6       84 

Rockford 8       92 

Winnebago 7  t  99 

Pecatonica 7     106 

Nevada 8     114 

Freeport 7     121 

Eleroy 8     129 

Lena 5     134 

Nora 7     141 

Warren 4     145 

Apple  River 6     151 

Scales  Mound 8     159 

Council  Hill 6     164 

Galena 7     171 

Dunleith 10     181 

This  road  is  intended  to 
connect  \vith  the  Northern 
Iowa  RR.  projected  from  Du- 
buque  west  towards  the  Mis- 


DISTANCES  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI  AND  MISSOURI  RAIL  ROAD. 

First  General  Division,  from  Davenport  to  Council  Bluffs. 
From  Davenport  to 

fWolcott 12 

Farnam 17 

Durant 20 

Junction  of  Muscatine  and  Cedar  Rapids 27 

Moscow,  on  Cedar  River 30 

West  Liberty 39 

Iowa  City 55 

Centre  of  Iowa  County 85 

"         Powesheik  County Ill 

Newton,  Jasper  County 141 

iFort  Des  Moines 174 

Proposed.         Council  Bluffs 310 


Graded. 


Located. 


100 


DISTANCES    BY    STAGE    ROUTES. 


Second  General  Division,  from  Muscatine  to  Mouth  of  Platte. 
From  Muscatine  to  Miles. 

Under  Contract.      Fredonia,  or  Iowa  River ....       20 

c  Columbus  City 22 

Located.  \  Washington 89 

I  Oskaloosa 95 

Surveyed.  Mouth  of  Platte  (21  miles  below  Council 

Bluffs) ,     280 

Third  General  Division,  from  Muscatine  to  Cedar  Rapids. 
From  Muscatine  to  Miles. 

Graded.  Junction  with  1st  General  Division VI 

S  Tipton 27 

Locaf€d'  )  Cedar  Rapids 63 


DISTANCES   ON   THE   VARIOUS    STAGE   ROUTES   THROUGH 


OUT   THE    STATE. 


DAVENPORT    TO   Cou 
BLUFFS. 
From  Davenport  to 
MUSCATINE  

NCLL 

Miles. 
30 
33       63 
26       89 
46     135 
20     155 
19     174 
14    188 
24    212 
5    217 
22     239 
11     250 
15    265 
9     274 
4    278 
5     283 
15     298 
13     311 

IOWA  CITY  

Marengo  

Su^ar  Grove 

Keith's  

FT.  DBS  MOINES  
Adel  

Panther  Creek  
Bear  Grove  

Indian  Grove  

Nishnabottanny  
Pleasant  Spring  
Indiantown.... 

Walnut  Creek  
WestNishnabottany 
Silver  Creek.. 

Keg  Creek 6 

COUNCIL  BLUFFS..,,     10 


317 

327 


BURLINGTON  TO   COUNCIL 

BLUFFS. 

From  Burlington  to  Miles. 

London 20 

MT.  PLEASANT 10  30 

Rome 8  38 

FAIRFIELD 15  53 

Libertyville 7  60 

Agency  City 15  75 

OTTUMWA 4  79 

EDDYTILLE 15  94 

OSKALOOSA 10  104 

PELLA 18  122 

FT.  DBS  MOINES 46  1G8 

See  preceding  ta 
ble  for  intermediate 
distance. 

Council  Bluffs  ...    ,.  139  307 


DISTANCES    BY     STAGE    ROUTES. 


101 


BURLINGTON  TO  CENTREVILLE, 

APPANOOSELEO. 

From  Burlington  to  Miles. 

Lowell 19 

Salem 12     31 

Hillsborough 6     37 

Utica 7     44 

Keosauqua 12     56 

Troy 15     71 

Bloomfield 10     81 

Centreville 26  107 

BURLINGTON  TO  KEOKUK. 

From  Burlington  to  Milos. 

Ft.  Madison 20 

Montrose 12     32 

Keokuk 12    44 

DAVENPORT  TO  CEDAR  RAPIDS. 

From  Davenport  to  Miles. 

Tipton, 40 

Mt.  Vernon 20     60 

Marion 13     73 

Cedar  Rapids 5     78 

DAVENPORT  TO  DUBUQUE. 

From  Davenport  to  Miles. 

Dewitt 21 

Maquoketa 19     40 

Andrew 8     48 

LaMotte 10     58 

Dubuque 16     74 

DUBUQUE  TO  CEDAB  FALLS. 

From  Dubxique  to  Miles. 

Delhi 36 

Independence 36     72 

Cedar  Fall? 25     97 

9* 


DUBUQUE  TO  IOWA  CITY. 

From  Dubuque  to  Miles. 

Cascade 26 

Monticello 12     38 

Anamosa 13     51 

Fairview 4     55 

Marion 15     70 

Cedar  Rapids 5     75 

Iowa  City 25  100 

CEDAR  RAPIDS    TO  CEDAR 
FALLS. 

From  Cedar  Kapids  to  Miles. 

Vinton 25 

Waterloo 30     65 

Cedar  Falls 7    72 

KEOKUK  TO  IOWA  CITY. 

From  Keokuk  to  Miles. 

Charleston 18 

Primrose 12     30 

Birmingham 24     54 

Fairneld 9     63 

Brighton 12     75 

Washington 15     90 

Iowa  City 35  125 

KEOKUK  TO  KEOSAUQUA. 

From  Keokuk  to  Miles. 

Charleston 18 

Warren 6     24 

Bonaparte 12     36 

Keosauqua 12     48 

BONAPARTE  TO  BIRMINGHAM. 

From  Bonaparte  to  Miles. 

Winchester 12 

Birmingham 3     15 


102  DISTANCES    BY    RIVER. 

OTTFMWA  TO  CHARITON. 


From  Ottumwa  to  Miles. 

Albin 25 

Chariton..., 25       50 

OSKALOOSA  TO  COUNCIL 

BLUFFS. 

x-'rom  Oskaloosa  to  Miles. 

Knoxville 25 

Indianola 25       50 

Wintersett 25       75 


Lewis 70     145 

Council  Bluffs 60     205 

FAIRFIELD  TO  KEOSAQUA,     20 

MUSCATINE  TO  BuKLINGTON. 
From  Muscatine  to  Miles. 

Grandview 14 

Wapello 10       24 

Linton 9       33 

Burlington 19       52 


RIVER    DISTANCES. 


MISSISSIPPI  RIVER. 

From  St.  Louis  to 
Alton 

Miles. 
09 

202 
204 
214 
220 
235 

Fort  Madison  

18 
24 
42 
52 
57 
62 
80 
82 
97 
105 
115 
123 
133 
143 
155 
159 
161 
163 
175 
185 
190 
198 

Milan 

Wiota          

250 
262 
269 
299 
304 
309 
321 
qoq 

\Vorthino'ton  

Westport  

Clarksville.  

Louisiana  

Scott's  Landing    

Buffalo  and  Andalusia... 

Cincinnati  

R.  Island  and  Davenport 

334 
346 

353 
358 
364 
367 
377 
395 
397 

Hannibal  

La  Grange  

Fulton  and  city  of  Lyons 

Tully    

Gregory's  Landing  
Alexandria        . 

412 
428 
453 

Keokuk 

Galena              

Nashville  ... 

Dubuque  

DISTANCES     BY    RIVER. 


103 


Peru  (Iowa)  461 

Cassville 484 

Guttenburg , 498 

Clayton  City 508 

Wyoming 513 

.Wisconsin  river... 517 

McGregor's  Landing 521 

Fort  Crawford 523 

Prairie  du  Chien  524 

Lansing 559 

Wrinnisnick 579 

Warners  Landing 589 

Prairie  Lacross 617 

Mouth  of  Black  river....  629 

Reed's  Landing 637 

Wabashaw 705 

Lake  Pepin 708 

RedWing 736 

Mouth  of  Lake  St.  Croix  786 

Red  Rock 803 

Little  Crow  Village 805 

St.  Paul 809 

Mendotah 819 

St.  Peter 823 

MISSOURI  RIVER. 

From  Alton  to  Miles. 

Mouth  of  Missouri 7 

St.  Charles 34 

Mt.  Auburn 64 

Augusta 69 

South  Point 76 

Washington 85 

Pinckney 94 

Hermann 109 

Portland 119 

St.  Aubert 139 

Bennett's  Landing 149 


Mouth  of  Osage 152 

Jefferson  City 162 

Claysville 1G9 

Marion 174 

Nashville 187 

Providence 189 

Rocheport 201 

Boonville 211 

Arrow  Rock 226 

Glasgow 241 

Cambridge 249 

Keytesville  Landing 256 

Brunswick 275 

Dewitt 287 

Miami 293 

Hill's  Landing 313 

Wraverly 319 

Dover  Landing 331 

Lexington 343 

Wellington 354 

Camden 364 

Napoleon 372 

Sibley 379 

Richfield 394 

Blue  Mills  Landing 404 

Liberty 414 

Wayne  City 420 

Randolph 428 

Kansas 433 

Parkville  448 

Narrows  Landing 459 

Fort  Leavenwoi'th 468 

Weston  475 

Columbus  Landing 504 

St.  Joseph 537 

Savannah  559 

Iowa  Point 585 

Council  Bluffs...  789 


104 


STATISTIC  S  . 


XI 


E-l 

cu 

<! 

W 
o 


!! 
rt 


i  « 

§  §« 


•- 


O  S3  "^ 

^c;  ^  ^^ 

CO  "O 

•«  .fc  » 


ill 


s 


S  \  Si 


si 


s  e 

sf     "^"s     «S'S6er 


111  I 


M 


l 


. 

o  05  o 

' 


<<<<I«|K£5^5a5o5c^QoGa£io 


ST  AT  I  STICS. 


lOi 


ss  ^1        I    S 


?§'   8 


-        -      - 
lis'stfffi^s  a  s'sg  l-s     s.s 


g  lifg     g|§3     S         III 

cJ--coo-.-cf-.ooVo      of     -tew-.-         --«-«          ef  s"     »      oo 


1      1      I     I          1 

6    «    S       C" 


s  I      III  g§    IH 

S"»8JS':S:?S!5ES    g5yr22"a       =t=    85«          -"         &'"5       S     1 36 

"     " 


—  -  •  ~:  ' -^  >  l-~  f  -  - 1 
.—  068  3  *  Kb  B  r- 
'  *1 


a  S= 

a  sifi' 


.rf  l^i  Ij      f  I.e..4 

«'  i.  ^  3"  .  c  5r  §  ?  '5  >  •«  t^  .  t"2  _r—  i*~  S  5  «  • 


106  FINANCES    OF    IOWA. 

The  following  items  are  omitted  in  the  preceding  Table, 
but  included  in  the  "  Total  Value"  column  : — 

No.  of  Mules  in  the  State 2,232 

Value       "             "      "    116,955 

No.  of  Sheep          "      »     109,542 

Value       "             "      "    204,061 

No.  of  Hogs           "      "    611,923 

Value     "              "      "    873,103 

The  increase  in  value  of  property  in  any  county  for  the 
past  year,  can  be  ascertained  by  comparing  the  items  of  the 
counties,  in  the  two  total  columns,  for  1853  and  1854. 

Financial. 

State  Revenue  on  hand,  Nov.  1,  1852 $8,602  88 

Receipts  from  above  date  up  to  Oct.  31,  1854 114,946  87 

Proceeds  from  Sale  of  Saline  Lands  up  to  Oct.  31, 

1854 10,515  70 


Total  amount  of  Receipts $134,065  45 

During  the  same  period  there  has  been  paid  out  on 

Auditor's  Warrants 118,542  90 


Leaving  a  balance  in  Treasury  of $15,522  55 

An  estimate  of  the  necessary  expenditures  for  tJte  two  years, 

commencing  Nov.   1st,  1854,  and  ending  October  31, 
1856:— 

Agricultural  Societies $5,000,00 

Governor,     Superintendent,     Secretary,    Auditor, 
Attorney-General,    Treasurer,   and    Librarian's 

salaries 95300  00 

Blind  Asylum 6,000  00 

Deaf  and  Dumb 4,000  00 


Carried  over $24,300  00 


DESCRIPTION     OP    COUNTIES. 


107 


Brought  over $24,300  00 

Funded  debt— bonds  now  due 16,442  00 

General  contingent  fund 2,000  00 

Interest  account 13,000  00 

Judges'  salary 24,000  00 

Miscellaneous  disbursements 6,000  00 

Penitentiary 6,000  00 

Supreme  Court  expenses 2,000  00 

State  printing 7,000  00 

State  officers'  contingent  fund 3,000  00 

State  House 6,000  00 

Stationery 5,000  00 

Legislative  expenses  and  other  special  appropria 
tions 25,000  00 

$139,742  00 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


DESCRIPTION   OF   COUNTIES. 


To  describe  minutely  and  separately  counties  that  pos 
sess  so  nearly  the  same  qualities  as  do  those  situated  adja 
cent  to  each  other,  in  any  portion  of  this  State,  would  be  a 
useless  task ;  hence,  where  a  full  description  is  given  of  the 
soil,  productions,  climate,  &c.,  of  one  county,  and  those  ad 
joining  are  very  similar,  the  description  is  not  repeated. 
For  instance,  the  general  description  of  "Winneshiek 
County,  answers  for  every  adjoining  county  in  the  north 
east,  Henry  or  Jefferson  for  the  south-east,  Pottawattamie 
for  the  west,  Scott  and  Jackson  for  the  east,  and  so  on. 


108  DESCRIPTION     OF    COUNTIES. 

ADAMS  COUNTY 

Was  settled  in  1851,  by  Messrs.  Walter,  Bowman  and 
Toar,  from  Nodaway  Co.,  Mo.  The  first  election  held,  was 
in  April,  1853,  at  which  twelve  votes  were  cast.  Quincy, 
the  county-seat  of  Adams,  was  located  in  April,  1853,  by 
Commissioners  appointed  by  the  Legislature.  The  first 
sale  of  lots  took  place  in  September,  1853.  The  present 
population  of  the  County,  (Feb.  1855),  is  about  700;  the 
cumber  of  votes  150.  The  last  State  census  showed  a  po 
pulation  of  342;  making  an  increase  of  over  one  hundred 
per  cent,  during  the  past  eight  months,  and  the  gain  will 
far  exceed  that  the  coming  twelve  months. 

But  one  church — the  Methodist  Episcopal — has  a  sub 
stantial  frame  meeting-house,  24  by  30.  Other  societies 
will  organize  during  the  season. 

The  district  schools,  (under  the  common  school  law),  are 
the  only  educational  institutions  yet  in  the  County.  These 
are  susceptible  of  improvement. 

Probably  no  county  in  Iowa  possesses  more  motive  power 
for  machinery  than  Adams.  Two  saw-mills  already  in  ope 
ration,  and  two  others  being  built,  and  yet  not  one-twen 
tieth  of  the  demand  is  supplied. 

One  or  two  grist  or  flouring-mills  are  very  much  needed 
— also  a  carding  and  fulling-mill.  There  are  plenty  of  goo( 
mill-seats  on  the  Nodaway  to  be  had  for  Congress  price. 
($1  25  per  acre).  The  very  nature  of  the  soil  and  climate 
— the  high  rolling  prairies,  interspersed  with  streams  of 
pure  water,  as  well  as  the  experience  of  those  already  en 
gaged  in  the  business,  points  out  this  as  one  of  the  best 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  109 

sheep-growing  countries  in  the  world.  The  day  is  not  far 
distant  when  that  business  will  be  carried  on  largely  in 
Western  Iowa. 

The  richness,  fertility,  and  depth  of  the  soil  in  Adams 
County,  will  compare  favourably  with  any  county  in  West 
ern  Iowa,  and  as  to  timber,  it  is  better  supplied  than  those 
surrounding  it.  The  principal  streams  are  the  West,  Mid 
dle,  and  East  Nodaway  rivers.  The  heads  of  the  One-hun- 
dred-and-two,  one  branch  of  the  Little  Platte,  and  the  East 
and  Main,  or  Middle  Nodaways,  extend  from  north  to  south 
across  the  County.  Veins  of  stone-coal  2J  to  3£  feet  thick 
have  been  found  along  the  Middle  Nodaway. 

The  climate  of  Western  Iowa  is  peculiar;  the  winters  are 
very  dry,  no  rain  falling  usually  from  October  till  March 
and  April.  There  is  not  generally  much  snow,  and  the 
ground  in  the  winter  is  frozen  to  a  great  depth,  owing  to 
the  loose  nature  of  the  soil.  Three  winters'  experience  in 
Iowa,  and  I  have  never  seen  the  frost  leave  the  ground 
after  winter  sets  in,  until  spring.  Our  streets  and  roads 
are  dry  and  dusty.  The  months  of  August  and  September 
are  usually  very  dry,  most  of  our  rains  coming  during  the 
earlier  part  of  the  season.  It  has  been  frequently  remarked, 
that  no  soil  in  the  world  would  stand  as  much  dry  weather 
as  this,  and  there  is  none  that  is  less  injured  by  continued 
wet  weather.  Owing  to  these  peculiarities  of  the  climate, 
no  section  of  country  can  compare  with  this  for  stock  raising, 
the  cold  but  dry  winters  being  just  the  thing  for  cattle  and 


10 


110  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

ALAMAKEE  COUNTY 

Is  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Mississippi  River.  It  is 
the  extreme  N.  E.  county  of  the  State.  The  first  settle 
ments  made  by  whites  were  in  1850.  The  present  popu 
lation  of  the  county  numbers  some  5000. 

One  church,  erected  by  the  Congregational ists  in  Waw- 
kon,  and  one  in  Lansing,  are  the  only  houses  of  worship  we 
hear  of  in  the  county.  The  several  Christian  denomina 
tions  have  organized  societies,  and  many  of  them  are  pre 
paring  to  build  this  year. 

One  newspaper — the  "  Lansing  Intelligencer." 

The  county  boasts  some  forty  well-attended,  ably-taught 
public  schools,  and  several  prospering  private  schools. 

In  the  county  are  two  flouring  and  five  or  six  saw-mills. 
These  kinds  of  mills  are  badly  needed  in  different  parts 
of  the  county,  although  admirably  provided  for  by  nature. 
Manufactories  of  farming  utensils,  cooperage,  &c.,  are  also 
needed.  The  facilities  for  getting  pine  lumber  are  good, 
and  oak,  lynn,  and  black  walnut  are  plenty.  "Large  farms, 
and  lots  of  them,"  are  being  opened  and  cultivated,  and 
they  will  remain  without  a  good  market  for  the  grain, 
until  more  mills  are  established.  This  county  is  well 
watered,  well  timbered,  fertile  and  productive;  adapted 
to  all  kinds  of  grain,  fruit  and  grazing. 

APPANOOSE  COUNTY 

Is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Davis,  on  the  west  by  Wayne, 
on  the  north  by  Monroe,  and  on  the  south  by  the  Missouri 
line.  Centreville,  the  county-seat,  is  the  principal  town  in 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  Ill 

the  county,  and  is  situated  on  the  Southern  Iowa  R.  R., 
projected  to  run  west  from  Fort  Madison.  The  Chariton 
river  passes  in  a  south-easterly  direction  through  the  State, 
and  upon  its  banks  are  numerous  excellent  mill-sites. 
Beside  this,  Shoal  and  Walnut  Creeks,  and  the  tributaries 
of  the  Chariton  furnish  water  to  every  portion  of  the  county. 
The  soil  is  of  an  excellent  quality,  and  the  county  tolerably 
well  timbered.  The  climate  is  mild  and  pleasant,  less  sub 
ject  to  high  winds  than  the  middle  and  northern  portion  of 
the  State.  The  principal  towns  in  the  county  are  Centre- 
ville,  (the  county  seat),  Sharon,  Hibbsville,  Unionville, 
and  Iconium ;  beside  which  are  post-offices,  named  Moravia, 
Mount  Gilead,  New  Plain,  Cincinnati,  Millard,  Johns'  and 
Pleasant  View. 

BENTON  COUNTY 

"Was  first  settled  by  S.  M.  Lockhart,  in  the  spring  of 
1841 ;  soon  after,  other  families  followed.  In  August,  1851, 
C.  C.  Charles's  was  the  only  family  that  resided  in  what  is 
now  Vinton.  The  reports  of  the  assessors  in  regard  to  this, 
as  well  as  many  other  sections,  are  very  incorrect.  Last 
year  they  gave  Vinton  307  —  now  there  are  509.  The 
county  was  censused  at  2623,  but  at  that  time  there  were 
at  least  3000,  and  the  population  of  Benton  is  now  nearly 
4000. 

The  0.  S.  and  N.  S.  Presbyterians  have  established  so 
cieties,  and  are  preparing  to  erect  churches. 

One  school,  well  conducted,  with  90  scholars. 


112  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

One  steam  saw-mill,  cutting  4000  feet  of  lumber  every 
24  hours.  A  flouring-rnill  is  very  much  needed. 

This  county  is  well  watered,  with  a  due  proportion  of 
prairie  and  timber. 

The  settlements  of  the  county  are  at  Burk's  P.  0.,  Ma- 
rysville,  Beutah  P.  0.,  Taylor's  Creek  P.  0.,  and  Prairie 
Creek  P.  0. 

BLACK  HAWK  COUNTY. 

This  county,  bearing  the  name  of  the  illustrious  chief, 
possesses  some  of  the  finest  soil  and  timber  land  in 
Northern  Iowa.  It  is  in  the  same  range  with,  and  the 
third  county  from,  Dubuque.  The  Cedar  fork  of  the  Iowa 
river  passes  diagonally  in  a  south-easterly  direction  across 
the  county.  Cedar  Falls  is  a  town  of  considerable  import 
ance,  and  will  become  a  large  manufacturing  place.  At 
this,  as  well  as  several  other  points  in  the  county,  the  best 
of  water-power  and  eligible  sites  for  mills  and  manufac 
turing  establishments  hold  out  inducements  to  capitalists, 
while  the  immense  quantity  of  unentered  land  in  the  county 
calls  loudly  to  the  immigrating  farmer. 

BOONE  COUNTY 

Was  first  settled  at  Pea's  Point,  (now  called  Flat-rock,) 
in  May,  1846,  by  John  Pea,  a  pioneer  of  the  old  stock,  a 
Pennsylvanian  by  birth,  who  has  lived  in  every  State  that 
intervenes  between  his  native  State  and  Iowa,  when  they 
were  wild  and  primitive  forests.  He  was  also  an  early 
settler  in  Missouri.  This  old  man  still  resides  in  Boone 


.DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  113 

County,  and  with  the  gray  hairs  of  some  seventy  years 
upon  his  head,  such  are  his  erect  form  and  comparatively 
robust  constitution,  that  Time  seems  to  have  broken  its 
billows  over  his  manly  form  only  as  the  ocean  rends  its 
fury  over  the  immovable  rock  of  its  shores.  The  old  gen 
tleman  is  still  full  of  adventure  and  enterprise,  and  may  ere 
long  be  one  of  the  freemen  of  Nebraska. 

Montgomery  McCall  settled  near  where  Boonsboro  now 
stands,  in  the  month  of  February,  1847,  and  for  about  a 
year  his  family  lived  nearer  the  source  of  the  Des  Moines 
river  than  any  other  white  family.  During  the  winter  of 
1846  and  1847,  seven  hundred  Pottawattamie  Indians  were 
encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  these  families. 

The  town  of  Boonsboro  was  located  on  the  7th  day  of 
July,  1851,  as  the  county-seat,  by  commissioners  appointed 
for  that  purpose  by  the  State  Legislature,  and  is  likely  ever 
to  remain  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  county. 

The  present  population  of  Boonsboro  is  about  300.  The 
population  of  the  county  over  2000.  Immigration  is  rapidly 
pouring  in. 

The  present  school  system  of  the  State  is  in  admirable 
effect  in  all  the  settled  parts  of  the  county.  In  Boonsboro 
a  public  school  is  continually  in  session,  under  the  superin 
tendence  of  an  able  teacher. 

A  Baptist  church  is  in  course  of  erection,  and  a  Method 
ist,  and  a  United  Brethren  church  of  small  dimensions. 
The  respective  congregations  are  in  better  condition  than 
their  church  buildings,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  getting 
lumber  to  build  with. 
10* 


114  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

No  newspaper  published  in  the  county;  the  publication 
of  one  will  probably  commence  next  May. 

No  manufactories  of  any  note  in  the  county.  The  mill 
at  the  Rapids,  fifteen  miles  below  Boonsboro,  is  situated  at 
one  of  the  best  mill  sites  in  the  county,  (it  is  probably  the 
best  mill  site  in  the  State).  But  the  present  owners  are 
pecuniarily  unable  to  improve  it  as  it  should  be.  They 
make  good  flour  at  said  mill,  but  fall  far  short  of  supplying 
the  wants  of  those  who  naturally  depend  upon  it.  In  able 
hands  this  mill  site  would  be  a  fortune  to  its  owner.  A 
steam  saw  and  flouring  mill  is  needed  in  Boonsboro ;  no 
enterprise  would  pay  better.  None  of  the  present  citizens 
are  able  to  erect  a  suitable  one,  and  the  rich  field  is  open  to 
a  stranger.  It  would  be  the  only  mill  within  fifteen  miles. 
Lumber  is  in  high  demand.  Boonsboro  might  have  been 
three  times  its  present  size,  only  for  the  want  of  lumber. 

Boone  County  is  24  miles  square.  The  river  Des  Moines 
runs  through  the  centre  of  it  from  north  to  south.  The 
bed  of  the  river  is  deep,  and  the  bluffs  on  either  side  of  the 
rich  bottoms  are  high,  and  in  many  places  abrupt.  The 
wildest  scenery  on  the  whole  course  of  this  river  is  in  this 
county.  The  bottoms  are  large,  and  clothed  with  the  best 
of  timber.  The  average  width  of  the  Des  Moines  timber 
through  the  county  is  six  miles.  The  country,  after  leaving 
the  timber  on  each  side  of  the  Des  Moines,  is  level,  rich, 
alluvial  prairie.  Beaver  Creek,  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county  is  skirted  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  fine  timber,  and 
its  prairie  bottoms  cannot  be  surpassed.  Montgomery's 
Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Skunk,  runs  through  the  north- 


DESCRIPTION    OF     COUNTIES.  115 

east  corner  of  the  county,  and  a  fine  settlement  of  Indian- 
ians  is  springing  up  along  its  banks. 

Stone-coal  of  a  fine  quality  is  plenty  everywhere  in  this 
county ;  but  timber  is  so  plenty,  that  as  yet  not  much  use 
is  made  of  the  coal  for  fuel. 

Everywhere  water  is  plenty.  Wells  on  the  prairie  are 
dug  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  deep.  Stock  water  is  abundant, 
and  this  is  as  fine  a  grazing  region  as  any  in  the  State. 

BREMEK,  COUNTY 

Was  settled  first  in  1848-9.  In  the  spring  of  1853,  the 
town  of  Janesville,  six  miles  below  Waverly,  was  laid  out 
by  John  T.  Barrie.  This  town  is  situated  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Cedar  River,  some  three  miles  above  the  junction  of 
the  Cedar  and  the  Shellrock.  The  place  contains  some  150 
inhabitants,  with  two  stores,  saw-mill,  &c.  A  flouring-mill 
is  much  needed,  and  the  water-power  along  these  streams 
is  sufficient  to  furnish  sites  for  all  the  machinery  needed. 
A  great  abundance  of  building-stone  and  the  best  of  timber 
admirably  fit  this  for  a  manufacturing  place. 

But  one  school  in  Janesville  —  a  fine  stone  school-house 
is  now  being  erected,  24  by  36  feet. 

The  M.  E.  Church  are  making  arrangements  to  build  a 
house  of  worship  this  season.  There  are  one  stationary 
and  two  local  itinerant  ministers;  the  churches  are  well 
attended  and  prosperous. 

In  June,  1853,  the  county-seat  was  located  six  miles 
above  Janesville,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Cedar  River,  and 
the  town  of  Waverly  established,  which  has  now  a  popula- 


116  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

tion  of  some  200.  A  good  saw  and  flouring  mill  near 
Waverly.  The  population  of  Bremer  County  is  about 
2000.  Public  schools  in  every  settlement  through  the 
county.  A  body  of  timber,  known  as  "  the  lower  big 
woods/'  embracing  some  40  sections,  lies  in  the  vicinity  of 
these  towns,  which,  in  a  prairie  country,  is  a  consideration 
of  no  minor  importance.  This  is  a  healthy  and  productive 
region  of  country,  possessing  beautiful  scenery,  and  excel 
lent  agricultural  and  manufacturing  advantages. 

BUCHANAN  COUNTY 

Was  first  settled  by  Ezra  G.  Allen  and  Wm.  Bennett, 
in  1842. 

Independence,  the  county-seat,  was  located  and  settled 
in  the  winter  of  1846,  by  Kufus  Blelark. 

Present  population  of  the  town,  500  —  of  the  county, 
3000. 

No  church  buildings  erected.  One  is  being  erected  at 
Independence,  and  one  at  Quasqueton. 

No  newspaper  in  the  county.  Two  flouring-mills  (two 
burrs  each),  and  two  saw-mills,  are  in  operation  in  the 
county. 

Woollen  manufactories  most  needed,  there  being  none 
within  40  miles. 

Oak  timber  plenty  along  the  streams,  and  deep-soiled 
rolling  prairies  between  the  water-courses.  The  streams 
are  rather  rapid,  with  gravelly  or  rocky  beds.  Limestone 
abundant.  Soil  generally  rich  sandy  loam. 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  117 

CARROLL  COUNTY 

Was  to  have  been  organized  in  March  of  the  present 
year.  The  present  population  of  the  county  is  but  about 
150.  Water-power,  timber  lands,  and  the  best  of  prairie 
soil,  with  inexhaustible  beds  of  building-stone,  coal,  and 
iron,  are  some  of  the  inducements  Carroll  County  holds  out 
to  new-comers.  As  yet  no  towns  are  laid  out,  not  even  the 
county-seat,  and  the  active,  intelligent,  and  ambitious  im 
migrant  will  find  inducements  for  settling  in  recently- 
organized  counties  which  do  not  exist  in  older  ones. 
Though  water-power  is  afforded  by  several  streams  in 
various  parts  of  the  county,  there  is  not  a  mill  or  manu 
factory  yet  erected,  and  the  nearest  mill  is  at  Panora, 
Guthrie  County,  27  miles  distant.  What  an  opening  for 
a  saw  and  grist-mill !  Wheat,  corn,  and  rye  in  abundance. 
Of  churches  and  schools  in  Carroll  we  could  obtain  no  in 
formation,  and  presume  that  they,  like  the  county,  are 
unorganized. 

CASS  COUNTY 

Joins  Pottawattamie  on  the  east,  and,  like  those  adjoin 
ing  on  the  west  and  south,  was  settled  by  Mormons  in 
1846-7,  who,  however,  left  in  the  spring  of  1852,  when 
W.  L.  Townsend,  P.  Hedges,  J.  Bradshaw,  C.  E.  Wood 
ward,  George  Reeves,  and  J.  W.  Benedict  took  their  places, 
and  became  permanent  settlers. 

Lewis,  the  county-seat,  was  first  settled  by  R.  C.  Lam 
bert.  The  population  of  the  county  is  now  a  little  rising 


118  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

of  700.     A  fine  court-house  is  to  be  built  in  Lewis  this 
season. 

There  is  but  one  church  in  Lewis  —  occupied  by  the 
Congregationalists  and  Methodists. 
^   No  newspaper,  but  one  needed. 

Two  good  common  schools  in  Lewis,  in  very  good  con 
dition. 

Two  saw-mills  and  one  grist-mill.  A  woollen  factory 
would  do  well,  also  mechanics  of  every  kind — blacksmiths, 
plough  and  wagon  makers,  cabinet-makers,  and  day  la 
borers. 

Cass  County  is  unsurpassed,  in  point  of  fertility  and 
water,  in  the  State, —  is  well  supplied  with  timber  and 
stone.  The  soil  gently  undulating  and  dry.  There  is  yet 
considerable  unentered  land  in  this  county. 

CEDAR  COUNTY 

Was  organized  and  settled  in  1836.  The  county-seat, 
Tipton,  was  laid  out  in  1839.  Present  population  of  the 
town  583,  and  of  the  county  7605. 

The  towns  and  settlements  in  the  county  are  Tipton, 
Woodridge,  Cedar  Bluffs,  Pioneer  P.  0.,  Cedar  P.  0., 
Massillon  P.  0.,  Yankee  Grove  P.  O.,  Red  Oak  P.  0., 
Gower's  P.  0.,  Inland  P.  0.,  Springdale  P.  0.,  Padee  P. 
0.,  Lacton  P.  0.,  and  Rochester. 

Three  churches  in  Tipton — Presbyterian,  Congregational, 
and  Methodist, — society  very  good.  Churches  of  different 
denominations  throughout  the  county,  but  the  precise  num 
ber  of  church  edifices  or  members  not  ascertained. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  119 

Four  schools  in  Tipton — 2  public,  2  private.  Average 
number  of  pupils  in  each,  30. 

One  steam  grist-mill — doing  but  little  business,  owing  to 
lack  of  water. 

The  Lyons  R.  R.  is  projected  through  the  centre  of  this 
county,  and  mostly  graded  as  far  as  Tipton,  and  we  under, 
stand  the  suspended  work  on  the  line  will  be  resumed  ener 
getically  by  the  new  company  this  season. 

The  county  is  made  up  of  very  excellent  soil,  adapted  to 
all  kinds  of  farming  purposes,  and  well  watered  generally. 
Timber  is  less  abundant  in  Cedar  than  in  many  other  coun 
ties.  Yet  taken  as  a  whole,  Cedar  holds  out  strong  induce 
ments  to  the  farmer  and  mechanic,  to  locate  within  her 
borders. 

CHICKASAW  COUNTY. 

Three  years  ago  Chickasaw  County  had  not  a  single 
white  resident — now  the  population  of  the  county  exceeds 
1000.  In  1853,  Rufus  Clark,  a  famous  trapper  and 
hunter,  a  native  of  Ohio,  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  the  pre 
sent  Bradford  P.  0.,  which  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
junction  of  the  Little  and  the  Big  Cedar  Rivers.  The 
population  of  Bradford  now  is  800.  One  district  school 
with  an  average  attendance  of  70  scholars.  Preaching 
every  Sabbath — principally  Methodist.  No  churches  orga 
nized  yet. 

Two  saw-mills  in  full  operation,  and  a  steam  saw-mill 
being  erected. 

Capitalists  and  traders  would  find  this  a  wide  and  inviting 
field  for  their  operations. 


120  DESCRIPTION    Or    COUNTIES. 

Flouring-mill  much  needed.  Flour  is  now  brought  45 
miles,  and  grain  taken  the  same  distance  to  mill.  With 
any  amount  of  water-power  all  over  the  county,  and  the 
best  of  grain  soil,  we  hope  some  capitalist  will  consult  his 
interest  by  contributing  to  the  wants  of  the  people  of 
Chickasaw. 

CLARKE  COUNTY 

Was  first  settled  in  1849.  In  1850,  according  to  the 
census,  it  contained  79  inhabitants.  The  population  of  the 
county  now,  (February,  1855),  numbers  upwards  of  2000. 
The  county-seat,  Osceola,  was  settled  in  1852 — present  po 
pulation,  150. 

There  are  no  church  buildings  erected  in  the  county  as 
yet ;  but  the  Methodists,  Campbellites,  and  United  Breth 
ren  have  each  an  organization. 

No  public  schools.  Two  private  schools  in  Osceola,  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  Several  schools  in  the  county,  exact 
number  unknown. 

Of  manufactories  there  is  one  steam  saw-mill.  Steam 
flouring  and  saw-mills  much  needed.  Lumber  is  worth  two 
to  two  and  a  half  dollars  per  hundred  for  all  kinds,  and 
scarce  at  that.  Timber  of  the  first  quality  skirts  the  nume 
rous  streams  which  have  their  sources  in  this  county.  Cli 
mate  healthy.  Soil  rather  broken  in  parts  of  the  county, 
but  fertile  and  arable. 

CLAYTON  COUNTY 

Is  the  most  northern  river  county  in  the  State,  except 
Alainakee.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Mississippi, 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  121 

on  the  west  by  Fayette,  on  the  south  by  Delaware  and  Du- 
buque.  The  principal  water-courses  in  the  county  are  Yellow 
and  Turkey  Rivers,  Volga  and  Buck  Creeks,  and  Bloody 
Run.  Turkey  River  is  among  the  most  beautiful  and  placid 
streams  in  the  State,  and  is  celebrated  for  its  numerous 
geological  specimens,  and  the  picturesque  scenery  of  its 
banks  and  dells.  Turkey  River  affords  most  excellent  water- 
power  for  mills  and  machinery,  and  is  navigable  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  as  far  up  as  the  forks.  The  soil  is  about  the 
same  as  in  those  counties  adjoining,  already  described.  The 
principal  towns  in  the  county  are  Garnaville,  the  county- 
scat,  Brookville,  Kilroy,  Clayton,  Guttenburg,  Melville, 
Buena  Vista,  Elkport,  Elkador,  Farmersburg,  and  Brookville, 
besides  several  settlements,  at  each  of  which  is  a  Post  Office. 

CLINTON  COUNTY. 

De  Witt,  the  county  seat  of  Clinton,  was  settled  in 
1 841 — some  portions  of  the  county  in  1836.  The  present 
population  of  the  county  is  7500 — of  De  Witt,  500. 

Four  churches — Methodist,  Congregational,  Roman  Ca 
tholic,  and  one  union  of  the  Baptists  and  Disciples. 

Three  newspapers  printed  in  the  county,  at  Lyons,  Ca- 
manche,  and  Fulton  City.  One  needed  in  De  Witt. 

Good  public  and  select  schools  in  every  town  of  the 
county,  and  in  good  condition. 

In  De  Witt  are  two  saw-mills  and  one  grist-mill.     Being 
the  centre  of  a  very  excellent  grain  market,  which  will  soon 
have  an  outlet  by  the  Lyons  R.  R.,  it  becomes  capitalists  to 
erect  a  large  flouring-mill  at  or  near  De  Witt. 
11 


122  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

Clinton  consists  of  beautiful,  rich,  rolling  prairie,  inter 
spersed  with  groves  of  timber.  "  Second-hand  lands  can  be 
bougbt  on  better  terms  in  Clinton  tban  any  county  in  the 
State,  according  to  their  true  value." 

DALLAS  COUNTY 

Was  first  settled  by  Samuel  Miller  and  family,  in  1846. 
The  population  of  the  county  according  to  the  last  census, 
was  2565.  The  present  population  of  Adel,  the  county- 
seat,  is  126.  The  town  is  beautifully  located  on  the  west 
side  of  the  North  Raccoon  River,  and  is  directly  on  the 
great  route  between  the  East  and  California,  Oregon  and 
Utah. 

Five  public  schools  in  the  county,  all  in  a  prosperous 
condition.  No  private  schools. 

Dallas  has  five  water,  and  one  steam,  saw-mills.  Grist 
mills  and  manufactories  greatly  needed.  The  many  fine 
streams  that  afford  water-power  in  this  county,  and  the  fer 
tile  soil,  producing  abundant  crops,  call  loudly  to  the  capi 
talists  and  farmers  to  make  investments  in  Dallas.  Consi 
derable  of  the  land  of  Dallas  can  be  had  at  government 
price,  if  applied  for  before  it  is  entered. 

The  country  lies  high,  rolling,  and  healthy,  but  is  com 
paratively  sparsely  settled,  as  the  number  of  inhabitants 
indicates. 

DAVIS  COUNTY 

Is  the  second  county  from  the  Mississippi,  on  the  Mis 
souri  State  line,  and  is  settled  to  a  great  extent  by  immi 
grants  from  Missouri  and  Illinois.  The  principal  streams 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  -3 

watering  the  county  are  the  north  and  south  branches  of 
the  Waukindau,  and  the  Fox  River,  which,  with  several 
smaller  streams,  have  their  rise  in  the  county,  passing 
through  Missouri  to  the  Mississippi.  The  Des  Moines 
River  runs  diagonally  across  the  north-east  corner  of  the 
county,  several  of  whose  tributaries  traverse  the  county. 
The  principal  towns  in  Davis  County  are  Bloomfield.(the 
county-seat,)  Troy,  Drakesville,  Nottingham,  and  Mount 
Calvary,  and  small  settlements,  the  post-offices  of  which  are 
named  Oak  Spring,  Soap  Creek,  Salt  Creek,  Pleasant  View, 
Taylor,  Troy,  Dover,  Pulaski,  Stringtown,  Monterey,  Sa 
vannah,  Roscoe,  and  Del  Norte. 

There  are  14,320  acres  of  unentered  land  in  Davis 
County.  For  a  description  of  the  soil  see  Monroe — the 
soil  in  the  two  counties  being  similar. 

DES  MOINES  COUNTY 

Was  first  settled  in  1832,  by  David  Tothers,  who  set 
tled  three  miles  south-west  of  what  is  now  Burlington. 
The  next  settlement  was  made  by  S.  S.  White  and  Amzi 
Doolittle,  who  were  the  proprietors  of  the  original  town. 
Additions  were  laid  out  in  the  order  in  which  they  are 
named :  in  1836,  by  David  Rorer,  Amos  Ladd,  Enoch 
Wade,  Isaac  Leffler,  G.  W.  Kelley,  and  others  since. 
Population  between  8  and  9000. 

There  are  eleven  houses  of  worship,  viz. :  two  Roman 
Catholic,  one  Episcopal,  two  Methodist  Episcopal,  one 
German  Methodist,  one  German  Lutheran,  one  Congrega- 


124  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

tional,  one  Baptist,  and  one  Presbyterian.  There  are  also 
three  congregations  who  intend  erecting  houses  of  worship 
soon,  viz. :  Second  Presbyterian,  Cumberland  Presbyterian, 
and  Christian. 

"Iowa  State  Gazette,"  weekly  and  tri-weekly;  "  Hawkeye," 
same;  "  Telegraph,"  daily  and  weekly ;  " Iowa  Farmer," 
monthly,  are  published  in  this  county. 

Two  large  public  school-houses,  costing  over  $4000  each, 
in  which  eight  schools  are  taught.  There  are  also  quite  a 
number  of  private  schools,  all  in  a  flourishing  condition ; 
and  the  Baptist  University,  of  which  an  account  is  published 
on  another  page. 

They  have  two  machine  and  engine  manufactories,  two 
foundries,  one  planing  mill,  two  steam  flouring-mills,  four 
sash,  door  and  blind  factories,  three  steam  saw-mills,  one 
shingle  factory,  one  steam  match  factory,  two  furniture  ma 
nufactories;  two  coach,  five  wagon,  two  plough,  one  brush, 
one  candle,  and  one  starch  factory;  two  large  pork  packing 
establishments,  three  banking  houses,  six  hotels,  thrco 
plank  roads.  Railroad  connection  with  Chicago.  Burling 
ton  and  Missouri  River  railroad  will  be  finished  to  Mt. 
Pleasant  this  summer — almost  entirely  graded  to  Ottumwa 
now.  They  have  several  large  bakeries.  An  oil  and 
paper  mill  no  doubt  would  do  well  there. 

The  opening  of  the  railroad  between  Chicago  and  Bur 
lington  has  given  a  new  impetus  to  the  latter  city,  and  the 
population  and  business  of  the  place  will  increase  more 
during  the  present  year  than  it  has  in  any  three  years 
heretofore. 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  125 

The  people  of  Burlington  are  industrious  and  energetic, 
and  their  intelligence  and  literary  taste  may  be  judged  of 
from  the  fact  that  the  most  extensive,  if  not  the  only  His 
torical  and  Geological  Society  of  the  State,  is  located  at 
this  place.  We  are  indebted  to  one  of  its  gentlemanly 
members  for  a  brief  history  of  this  institution,  which  fol 
lows  : — 

"  The  Iowa  Historical  and  Geological  Institute  was  or 
ganized  December  18th,  1843,  and  incorporated  December 
31st,  1850.  Its  effects  were  destroyed  by  fire,  January 
16th,  1853.  Its  object  is  to  collect  and  preserve,  and  to 
open  to  the  public,  historical  matter  of  all  kinds,  more 
especially  that  relating  to  Iowa,  a  general  library,  maps, 
charts,  drawings,  pictures,  statuary,  and  a  cabinet  of  natural 
history,  also — to  sustain  public  lectures.  When  the  ca 
binet  and  library  were  destroyed  by  fire,  the  Institute  was 
in  a  flourishing  condition,  having  about  800  volumes  in 
the  library,  2000  pamphlets,  files  of  newspapers  since  the 
organization  of  the  Territory  and  State,  and  a  great  many 
papers  pertaining  to  the  early  history  and  settlement  of 
the  State,  about  4000  specimens  illustrative  of  the  geology 
of  this  State,  an  herbarium  containing  the  greater  portion 
of  the  plants  found  in  the  State,  also  a  number  of  speci 
mens  illustrative  of  the  zoology  of  the  State ;  and  a  large 
collection  of  Indian  relics,  numbering  about  400,  among 
which  were  included  nearly  all  the  paraphernalia  of  Black 
Hawk.  The  loss  sustained  was  irreparable,  and  for  some 
time  it  was  difficult  to  keep  the  Institute  alive.  For  the  last 
year,  the  Institute  has  been  in  a  very  flourishing  condition ; 
11* 


126  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

in  fact,  so  much  so  that  a  thorough  re-organization  was 
necessary.     The  present  officers  are — 

"President,  DAVID  IxORER. 

Vice-President,  WILLIAM  THOMPSON. 

Corresponding  Secretary,  JOHN  H.  RAUCH. 

Recording  Secretary,  A.  D.  GREEN. 

Treasurer,  LUKE  PALMER. 

Librarian,  C.  C.  CLOUTMAN." 


DUBUQUE  COUNTY. 

Dubuque  is  one  of  the  oldest  counties  in  the  State,  being 
one  of  the  two  original  Districts,  from  which  the  principal 
eastern  counties  of  the  State  were  formed.  It  embraces 
the  most  noted  portions  of  the  mineral  region,  and,  singular 
as  it  may  appear,  though  in  the  very  heart  of  the  mineral 
region,  the  soil  is  generally  of  the  most  productive  charac 
ter,  yielding  large  crops  of  grain.  Few  countries  in  the 
world  possess  the  combined  advantages  of  a  soil  rich  in  fer 
tility,  and  at  the  same  time  underlaid  with  inexhaustible 
veins  of  lead  ore.  Lead  is  the  great  staple  of  export,  as 
will  be  seen  by  the  annexed  statistics.  Copper  and  zinc 
have  also  been  discovered,  but  not  in  sufficient  quantities 
to  induce  capitalists  to  enlist  in  the  work  of  developing 
them.  Several  valuable  lodes  or  veins  of  lead  were  disco 
vered  during  the  past  winter. 

The  country  west  of  Dubuque  City  is  strikingly  beauti 
ful,  and  well  watered.  It  is  a  rolling  prairie,  interspersed 
with  groves  of  timber,  while  along  the  small  streams  run 


DESCRIPTION     OF    COUNTIES.  127 

ning  from  iwrth  to  south  there  are  large  bodies  of  good 
timber,  and  extensive  water-power.  Several  adjoining 
counties,  as  well  as  Dubuque,  are  well  settled — the  land  all 
entered  by  actual  settlers.  Mineral  lots  are  laid  off  in  almost 
"bvery  conceivable  shape,  and  contain  about  ten  acres  each. 

The  city  of  Dubuque,  one  of  the  largest  and  most  densely 
populated  in  the  State,  is  handsomely  situated  upon  a  na 
tural  terrace.  The  streets  run  parallel  to  each  other,  and 
owing  to  the  peculiar  soil  at  this  location,  are  never  muddy. 
This  city  is  more  compactly  built,  and  contains  a  greater 
proportion  of  fine  buildings  than  any  other  place  in  the 
State.  Among  these  the  Catholic  Cathedral,  court-house, 
and  hotels  stand  prominent.  The  city  is  bounded  on  the 
west  by  a  range  of  high  cliffs,  from  which  the  prospect  of 
the  city  and  county  is  entrancingly  beautiful. 

Three  daily  newspapers  are  published  in  Dubuque  :  the 
" Express  and  Herald,"  the  "Tribune,"  and  the  "Ob 
server,"  each  issuing,  beside,  a  weekly  edition.  We  have 
not  the  name  of  the  weekly  German  paper. 

The  population  of  Dubuque  County,  according  to  the 
census  of  1854,  is  16,513 ;  and  of  the  city,  according  to 
West's  Statistics,  10,000.  The  number  of  buildings  erected 
in  the  city  last  year  was  332. 

Of  the  society  in  Dubuque  we  need  not  remark  farther 
than  to  state,  that  this  population  of  10,000  ably  support 
eleven  churches,  one  female  seminary,  one  college,  five  se 
lect  and  common  schools,  twenty-four  lawyers,  and  fourteen 
physicians. 

This  city  being  the  present  terminus  of  two  important 


128  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

railroads,  must  necessarily  become  a  place  of  great  commer 
cial  importance. 

Good  investments  can  be  made  in  the  establishing,  at 
Dubuque,  of  manufactories  of  Red  and  White  Lead,  Lead 
Pipe,  Shot,  and  Sheet  Lead.  Capitalists  should  investigate 
this  matter. 

From  the  following  statistics,  the  reader  may  judge  of 
the  commercial  importance  of  the  City  of  Dubuque  : — 

Total  Tonnage.  Value. 

Imports  to  Dubuque  in  1853 32,007  $2,497,12330 

1854 97,633  4,933,208  65 


Increase 65,626  $2,436,08535 

Exports  from  Dubuque,  in  1853...       7,482  $1,006,710 

1854...     11,736  1,573,408  30 


Increase 4,254  $566,69805 

Lead  exported  in  1854 4,385  $526,200 

Iron,  Steel,  and  Nails  exp.  in  1854  1,200  192,000 

Flour  exported  in  1854 180  1,200 

Wheat  exported  in  1854 880  48,000 

Corn  exported  in  1854 385  5,555 

We  invite  the  reader's  particular  attention  to  the  fol 
lowing  comparative  table  of  immigration,  for  the  past  two 
years : — 

Crossed  the  Dubuque  Ferry              in  1853.     in   1854. 

Men,  women,  and  children  6,200        38,400 

Wagons 2,404  4,300 

Carriages 3,110  2,100 

Cattle 5,506  9,518 

Sheep 300  2,708 

Hogs 520  6,630 


DESCRIPTION     OP    COUNTIES.  129 

The  immigration  to  Iowa,  in  1854,  at  this  point,  as  well 
as  others,  was  very  large.  The  amount  of  the  public  do 
main  sold  at  the  Dubuque  Land  Office,  during  the  year,  is  : 
cash  sales,  1,120,000  acres;  located  with  Military  War 
rants,  250,000.  The  snug  sum  of  $3,961,736  in  specie 
was  exported  to  St.  Louis  from  this  Land  Office,  during 
the  year  j  this  exceeds  the  like  exports  of  ten  previous 
years. 

DELAWARE  COUNTY 

Was  first  settled  in  1843,  by  people  from  the  north 
eastern  states. 

The  present  population  of  the  county  is  6000 — that  of 
Delhi,  the  county-seat,  400. 

No  newspapers  in  the  county. 

The  number  and  condition  of  public  and  private  schools 
compare  favorably  with  those  of  other  counties  in  the  state, 
of  the  same  population. 

No  manufactories,  yet  some  in  contemplation.  The 
county  and  its  towns  are  filling  up  rapidly  with  an  indus 
trious,  enterprising,  and  wealthy  population.  Great  in 
ducements  are  held  out  to  capitalists  to  erect  manufactories 
of  different  kinds.  There  is  an  abundance  of  water-power 
1£  rniles  from  Delhi,  and  a  large  body  of  timber  on  the 
Maquoketa,  thus  affording  ample  opportunity  for  the  erec 
tion  of  machinery,  whether  propelled  by  steam  or  water- 
power.  This  county  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  wool-growing ; 
and  all  that  is  wanted  to  make  the  citizens  of  Clinton  a 
great  manufacturing  people,  is  to  make  their  advantages 
known  to  Eastern  capitalists. 


130  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

Chair-making,  cabinet-making,  wagon,  carriage  and 
buggy  making,  woollen  factories,  in  sbort,  everything,  ex 
cept  distilling  alcoholic  liquors,  is  needed  in  this  vicinity. 

This  county  is  conveniently  interspersed  with  groves  of 
timber,  and  drained  by  the  Maquoketa,  Plumb,  Elk,  Bear, 
Buffalo,  Buck,  Little  Turkey,  and  Honey  Creeks,  all  of 
which  afford  some  fine  mill-sites. 

The  prairie  is  gently  undulating,  soil  good,  composed  of 
a  happy  admixture  of  vegetable  mould  and  sand,  based 
upon  a  porous  clay  subsoil.  We  have  an  abundance  of 
fine  lime-stone,  for  building  and  fencing  purposes. 

Near  Delhi  we  have  excellent  clay  for  the  manufacturing 
of  brick,  of  the  best  quality. 

Within  a  few  rods  of  this  village  plat,  we  have  a  fine 
sheet  of  pure  "  soft  water,"  covering  about  160  acres  of 
land,  containing  small  fish  in  abundance,  and  affording  a 
fine  opportunity  for  bathing  during  the  hot  months. 

Taking  Delaware  County  as  a  whole,  it  affords  as  fine  a 
chance  for  the  wealthy,  enterprising  immigrant,  as  any 
county  in  Northern  Iowa. 

DECATUR  COUNTY 

Was  first  settled  by  some  seven  or  eight  families,  who 
immigrated  from  Missouri,  and  located  upon  the  then  dis 
puted  territory  between  Missouri  and  Iowa,  anticipating  an 
extensive  trade  with  the  Indians,  who  at  that  time  were 
quite  numerous  here.  This  was  the  only  settlement  in  the 
county  until  1846,  when  a  company  of  Mormons  settled 
near  the  N.E.  corner  of  the  county,  calling  their  village 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  131 

Garden  Grove.  But  few  immigrants  located  in  this  county, 
however,  before  1850,  since  when  the  increase  has  been 
rapid,  and  of  the  best  of  citizens. 

The  population  of  Decatur  County  is  4020.  The  seve 
ral  denominations,  Presbyterians,  Methodists,  Baptists  and 
Christians,  have  each  organizations,  and  have  meetings  in 
turn  in  the  Court  House  in  Leon,  which  is  a  respectable- 
sized  two-story  brick  building.  No  buildings  for  public 
worship  yet  erected.  No  newspaper  in  Decatur  or  any 
adjoining  county.  In  the  county  are  some  twenty-five 
public  schools,  well  conducted,  supported  principally  by  the 
school  fund.  In  the  county  are  three  steam,  saw,  and 
grist  mills,  and  two  others  in  process  of  erection.  Those 
who  may  wish  to  locate,  will  find  in  Decatur  good  openings 
for  saw  and  grist  mills,  brick-makers,  wheelwrights,  cabi 
net-makers,  wagon-makers,  house-builders,  blacksmiths, 
tinners,  and  shoemakers. 

The  northern  part  of  the  county  is  principally  prairies, 
while  the  southern  is  supplied  with  a  large  and  beautiful 
growth  of  timber.  Though  the  county  is  more  broken  than 
many  north  and  east  of  it,  the  soil  is  all  susceptible  of  cul 
tivation,  and  more  than  half  the  county  heavily  timbered. 
Thompson's  Fork  of  Grand  Kiver  and  tributaries  spreads 
over  the  western  part  of  the  county,  affording  an  abund 
ance  of  clear,  soft  water,  and  plenty  of  timber,  for  all  pur 
poses.  These  streams  are  backed  by  extensive  beds  of  lime 
and  sand-stone,  suitable  for  building  purposes,  and  supply 
water  sufficient  to  run  flouring  or  saw-mills,  the  year 
through. 


182  DESCRIPTION     OF     COUNTIES. 

Wildon's  Fork  of  Grand  River,  traversing  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  county,  is  better  timbered,  but  not  so  good  a 
mill  stream. 

Along  the  banks  of  several  of  these  streams  thin  veins 
of  coal  have  been  discovered,  and  it  is  thought  that  exten 
sive  beds  would  be  found  by  proper  search,  but  no  labor 
has  yet  been  expended  upon  them. 

Leon,  the  county-seat,  is  situated  two  miles  due  east  of 
the  centre  of  the  county,  within  half  a  mile  of  an  extensive 
body  of  excellent  timber.  The  town  was  located  in  1853, 
present  population  250.  The  last  session  of  the  Legisla 
ture  changed  the  name  of  this  town  to  "Leon" ;  the  Post 
Office  yet  bears  the  original  name,  "  South  Independence." 

Decatur  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  high,  rolling  prairie, 
2 \  miles  west  of  the  centre  of  the  county,  and  3  miles  from 
Thompson's  Fork  of  Grand  River.  Population  between 
150  and  200. 

Pleasant  Plain  is  on  the  Missouri  line,  eleven  miles 
south  of  Leon.  Surrounded  by  a  splendid  agricultural 
country,  settled  by  energetic,  industrious  people,  this  will 
ever  be  a  brisk  business  place.  Population  upwards  of  100. 

Garden  Grove,  in  the  N.E.  corner  of  the  county,  on  one 
of  the  main  roads  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Missouri,  and 
surrounded  by  a  rich  and  fertile  county,  will  become  a  plac' 
of  some  importance. 

FAYETTE  COUNTY 

Is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Clayton  County,  which  sepa 
rates  it  from  the  Mississippi,  on  the  north  by  Winnesheik, 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  133 

on  the  west  by  Chickasaw  and  Bremer,  and  on  the  south 
by  Buchanan.  The  county  is  well  watered  by  Turkey 
River,  and  its  north  and  south  forks,  and  various  other  tri 
butaries.  The  soil  is  admirably  adapted  for  all  agricultural 
purposes.  The  scenery  along  Turkey  River  and  its  north 
and  south  forks  is  beautiful,  and  timber  abundant.  The 
Minnesota  Railroad,  projected  to  run  north-west  from  Du- 
buque,  passes  diagonally  through  this  county,  and  when 
built  will  add  greatly  to  its  wealth  and  importance.  The 
principal  towns  in  the  county  are  West  Union,  the  county- 
seat,  Lima,  and  Taylorsville,  besides  post  offices  named 
Eldorado,  Eden,  Clermont,  Douglas,  Windsor,  Louisville, 
Gamble  Grove,  Illyria,  Fayetteville  and  Mill  Grove. 

FREMONT  COUNTY 

Is  the  extreme  south-western  county  of  the  State.  The 
first  settlement  was  at  Sidney,  the  county-seat,  where  the 
first  sale  of  lots  was  made  June  30th,  1851.  James  H. 
Cowles  was  the  first  resident.  The  present  population  of 
the  county-seat  is  300 — that  of  the  county  3200. 

Of  churches  it  has  a  Congregational,  which  will  compare 
with  any  other  in  any  county  of  Ijke  age.  The  Methodist 
Church  numbers  more  members  than  any  other;  the  Bap 
tist  next;  the  Christians  or  Campbellites  are  also  quite  nu 
merous.  The  0.  S.  Presbyterians  are  preparing  to  organize 
a  Church,  and  to  erect  a  seminary — not,  however,  as  a  re 
ligious  institution — peculiar  to  that  body. 

Of  public  schools  there  are  in  the  county  some  twenty, 
with  ample  room  for  improvement  in  a  majority  of  them. 
12 


134  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

Here  are  a  carding-macbine  and  two  grist-mills,  one  steam 
saw-mill,  arid  four  water-power  saw-mills,  all  doing  an  ex 
cellent  business.  Also  two  portable,  six-horse-power  saw 
mills,  four  stores,  one  saddler,  one  shoemaker,  two  tailors, 
four  blacksmiths,  one  gunsmith — no  newspaper,  but  a  read 
ing,  intelligent  people. 

We  are  in  great  need  of  more  manufactories  and  mecha 
nics.  A  steam  flouring-mill  would  do  a  first-rate  business. 

The  surrounding  country  is  well  adapted  to  all  kinds  of 
agricultural  pursuits,  possessing  a  rich  and  productive  soil, 
well  supplied  with  water  and  timber,  and  rapidly  settling 
up  with  worthy,  industrious  and  intelligent  people. 

GUTHRIE  COUNTY 

Is  not  as  large  nor  as  old  as  many  other  counties  of  the 
State,  but  possesses  advantages  which,  when  developed,  will 
place  her  in  the  advance.  The  soil  of  Guthrie  is  second  to 
none  in  the  State,  for  the  farmer,  grazier,  and  fruit-grower. 
The  numerous  streams  of  running  water  afford  eligible  and 
profitable  sites  for  the  erection  of  the  much-needed  manu 
factories,  while  the  banks  are  big  with  inexhaustible  quar 
ries  of  lime,  free-stone,  and  stone-coal,  and  in  the  north 
west  corner  large  quantities  of  iron  ore  have  been  discovered. 
The  first  settlements  in  the  county  were  made  in  1850,  and 
the  present  population  is  2000.  The  principal  church  de 
nominations  are  Methodists,  United  Brethren,  0.  S.  Bap 
tists,  and  Friends,  each  of  whom  are  making  arrangements 
for  the  erection  of  church  buildings  for  their  respective  de 
nominations.  At  present  all  meetings  are  held  in  school- 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  135 

houses,  of  which  the  county  can  boast  several  very  good 
ones.  The  district  school-house  in  Panora,  is  the  best  in 
Western  Iowa,  and  a  public  school  is  kept  up  in  it  all  the 
year.  Considerable  of  the  land  in  this  county  is  yet  un 
entered  ;  though  timber-lands  are  all  taken  up.  The  county- 
seat,  Panora,  was  settled  in  1853 ;  it  now  contains  a  popu 
lation  of  160.  More  saw-mills,  a  planing-mill,  lath-ma 
chine,  carding  and  fulling-mill,  brick-makers,  carpenters, 
masons,  and  plasterers,  are  all  much  needed  in  Gruthrie. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

DESCRIPTION   OF   COUNTIES — CONTINUED. 

HARDIN  COUNTY 

Was  first  settled  in  1851,  and  contains  a  population  of 
some  2000.  The  largest  town  in  the  county  is  Eldora, 
which  is  inhabited  by  some  15  families. 

No  churches  erected  yet — preaching  by  Cumberland 
Presbyterians  and  Methodists. 

Well  supplied  with  public  schools  in  a  good  condition. 

Coal  abundant — timber  more  than  an  average.  Red 
sandstone,  and  fine  white  limestone  in  abundance.  Good 
prairie  land — no  better. 

Hardin,  (in  the  language  of  the  pioneer  from  whom  we 
gleaned  the  statistics),  "  is  a  little  out  o'  the  way,  but  it's  a 
mighty  fine  spot  when  you  get  to  it." 


136  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

Flouring  and  saw-mills  much  needed.  But  a  compara 
tively  small  portion  of  the  land  in  Hardin  is  entered. 

HARRISON  COUNTY, 

Situated  on  the  Missouri  River,  is  but  sparsely  settled 
yet,  less  than  one-fourth  of  the  land  in  the  county  being 
entered.  This  county  is  well  watered  by  the  Boyer  River, 
the  Little  Sioux,  and  various  smaller  streams,  tributary  to 
these  and  the  Missouri.  Magnolia  is  the  county-seat,  be 
side  which  there  is  no  other  settlement  of  importance. 
For  a  description  of  the  soil  see  the  chapter  on  Western 
Iowa,  or  Pottawattamie  County. 

HENRY  COUNTY. 

Mount  Pleasant,  the  county-seat,  was  laid  out  in  the 
year  1836,  by  Presley  Saunders ;  at  that  time  the  lands  on 
which  it  was  located  were  not  in  market,  nor  had  it  ever 
been  surveyed,  but  the  beauty  of  the  location,  taken  in  con 
nection  with  the  great  abundance  of  superior  building-stone, 
and  the  large  body  of  timber  that  lay  contiguous  to  the 
site,  to  say  nothing  of  the  never-failing  springs  of  water 
that  gush  from  the  shores  of  the  branch  that  runs  through 
the  suburbs  of  the  town,  induced  the  proprietor  to  believe 
that  a  town  might  be  built  up  that  would  be  a  credit  to  the 
State.  Nor  in  this  has  he  been  disappointed.  This  town 
now  contains  a  population  of  about  1500  inhabitants,  and 
is  at  present  in  a  more  prosperous  condition,  and  is  improv 
ing  faster  than  at  any  former  period. 

The  population  of  the  county  in  February  last,  was 
11,180.  Beside  the  county-seat,  there  are  other  towns  in 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  137 

the  county  of  considerable  size  and  importance.  Salem,  in 
the  south-west  part  of  the  county,  is  a  thriving  young  place, 
containing  650  souls.  New  London,  on  the  eastern  edge 
of  the  county  has  some  400  inhabitants.  Trenton,  in  the 
northern  portion,  some  300;  beside  these  are  Winfield, 
Lowell,  Hillsborough,  Home,  East  Grove  P.  0.,  Marshall 
P.  0.,  Wayne  P.  0.,  &c. 

There  are  six  church  edifices  in  Mount  Pleasant;  Con 
gregational,  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  Christian,  0.  S.  Bap 
tist,  and  Missionary  Baptist.  Other  towns  and  villages  are 
proportionally  well  supplied  with  churches,  all  of  which 
are  well  attended,  and  in  a  healthy  condition.  In  point 
of  morality  and  sobriety,  the  community  of  Mount  Plea 
sant  are  unsurpassed  in  the  State. 

Henry  County  supports  two  newspapers :  "  The  Iowa 
Observer/'  Whig,  and  the  "Iowa  True  Democrat,"  Free- 
Soil — both  published  at  the  county-seat. 

Mount  Pleasant  has  been  named  and  known  heretofore, 
as  the  point  possessing  and  offering  greater  educational 
advantages  than  any  other  place  in  the  State,  and  she  has  yet 
no  rival  in  this  respect  except  Davenport.  The  "Iowa  Wes- 
leyan  University,"  under  the  control  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
is  a  Collegiate  Institute  of  the  first  grade,  has  150  students, 
and  is  in  full  and  successful  operation  under  the  man 
agement  of  Prof.  James  Harlan,  with  competant  assistants. 
The  "  Mt.  Pleasant  High  School  and  Female  Academy," 
under  the  management  of  Prof.  S.  L.  Howe,  a  teacher  of 
acknowledged  ability  and  experience  has  an  average  attend 
ance  of  100  pupils.  The  well-merited  reputation  of  this 
12* 


138  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

school  at  home  and  abroad  is  attested  by  the  patronage  it 
receives.  A  Select  School  for  Young  Ladies,  under  the 
superintendance  of  Rev.  B.  Wall,  and  taught  by  Mrs. 
Wall  and  Miss  McHarg,  has  recently  been  opened,  which 
bids  fair  to  become  a  Female  Seminary  of  usefulness  and 
extensive  patronage.  The  town  and  county  is  well  supplied 
with  well-attended  and  ably-conducted  common  schools. 

There  are  at  present  no  manufactories  of  importance  in 
Henry  County.  Steam  flouring  and  saw-mills,  a  foundry, 
and  a  carding  and  fulling-mill  are  much  needed,  and  would 
prove  good  investments.  Coal,  in  considerable  quantities, 
has  been  found  on  both  sides  of  the  Skunk  river,  also  in 
exhaustible  quarries  of  the  very  best  building  stone  near 
Mt.  Pleasant.  The  Burlington  and  Wisconsin  River  rail 
road  will  be  finished  to  Mt.  Pleasant  during  the  present 
year.  The  Muscatine  and  Keokuk  railroad  also  touches 
Mt.  Pleasant. 

At  the  late  session  of  the  Legislature,  the  Iowa  Insane 
Asylum  was  located  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  appropriated  for  the  erection  of  the  building. 

The  soil  of  Henry  is  second  in  quality  to  that  of  no 
other  county  in  the  State.  The  land  is  well  watered,  all 
entered,  and  rapidly  filling  up  with  a  highly  intellectual 
and  industrious  class  of  citizens. 

IOWA  COUNTY, 

North  of  Keokuk,  and  west  of  Johnson,  is  well  sup 
plied  with  timber  along  the  Iowa  River,  which  stream,  with 
the  north  fork  of  English  River,  Old  Man's  Creek,  Beaver 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  139 

and  Richmond  Creeks,  affords  an  abundance  of  water  for  all 
purposes.  The  soil  is  admirably  adapted  for  farming  and 
grazing.  The  county  seat,  Marengo,  is  situated  upon  the 
Iowa  River,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  There  are 
settlements  at  Kozta,  Homestead,  Downard,  Millersburg 
and  North  English  Post  Offices.  The  Mississippi  and  Mis 
souri  railroad  passes  through  almost  the  centre  of  the 
county. 

JACKSON  COUNTY 

Comprises  in  area  fourteen  full  and  six  fractional  town 
ships  of  land.  The  principal  towns  in  the  county  are 
Andrew,  Bellevue,  Wickliffe,  Fulton,  Maquoketa,  Bridge 
port,  and  some  seventeen  P.  O.  settlements  beside. 

The  character  of  the  soil  is  rich  and  fertile,  and  the 
ranging  heights  and  diversified  scenery  on  the  banks  of  its 
numerous  water-courses  present  an  abundance  of  beautiful 
building-sites. 

A  railroad  is  in  contemplation,  and  partly  graded  from 
Galena  to  a  point  directly  opposite  Bellevue,  but  it  is  un 
certain  when  it  will  be  completed. 

Flouring  and  saw-mills  are  in  active  and  profitable  ope 
ration  in  different  parts  of  the  county,  but  it  is  impossible 
to  obtain  from  their  proprietors  even  an  approximate  esti 
mate  of  their  profits. 

At  Bellevue,  are  excellent  openings  and  good  sites  for 
two  more  steam  saw-mills  and  a  planing-mill.  Lumber 
for  building  finds  very  ready  sale  as  fast  as  manufactured, 
and  lumber  for  sawing  is  easily  obtained.  A  small  iron 


140  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

foundry,  an  extensive  wagon-making  establishment,  and  a 
cooper's  establishment,  would  all  do  well  in  Jackson. 

Jackson  is  one  of  the  best  watered  counties  in  the  State, 
and  is  well  supplied  with  timber,  principally  white  oak,  black 
walnut,  ash,  hickory,  elm,  maple,  white  walnut,  and  bass- 
wood.  Water-power,  unsurpassed  for  manufacturing  pur 
poses  :  upon  several  of  the  streams  are  already  erected 
flouring  and  saw-mills,  and  others  are  in  progress  of  erec 
tion.  The  county  is  also  one  of  the  best  for  agricultural 
purposes,in  the  State,  and  second  to  none  for  stock  raising. 

The  soil  in  the  valleys  is  a  first  rate  black  sandy 
loam  (several  feet  in  depth),  and  yields  heavy  crops  of 
corn ;  the  ridges  are  generally  second  and  third  rate  soil, 
with  a  subsoil  of  clay,  or  in  some  instances  ferruginous 
sand,  and  produce  fine  crops  of  wheat.  Potatoes  and 
other  root  crops,  as  well  as  vegetables  and  vines,  all  flourish 
luxuriantly.  The  rocks  of  the  county  are  what  belong  to 
the  u  Upper  Magnesian  Limestone"  formation ;  are  well 
adapted  for  building  purposes,  and  make  a  superior  quality 
of  lime. 

Iron  ore  is  found  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  lying 
loosely  on  the  surface,  and  no  doubt,  from  present  indica 
tions,  it  exists  in  large  masses.  "  Galena"  (lead  ore)  is 
also  frequently  picked  up  in  different  parts  of  the  county, 
and  some  mines  have  been  successfully  worked  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  county — there  is  a  rich  "lode"  of 
"  Galena"  only  three  miles  above  Bellevue,  dipping  into  the 
river,  which  can  be  seen  at  any  time  at  a  low  stage  of 
water  in  the  Mississippi.  It  is  the  opinion  of  old  miners, 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  141 

that  when  the  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  properly 
developed,  it  will  prove  rich  in  both  lead  and  iron  ores,  as 
indications  of  its  existence  manifest  themselves  in  almost 
every  hill  and  ravine. 

Bellevue,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Jackson  county,  is 
situated  on  the  Mississippi  river,  twelve  miles  due  south 
of  the  city  of  Galena ;  the  town  site  is  upon  an  elevated 
plateau  of  land  about  fifteen  feet  above  high  water  mark ; 
it  is  surrounded  by  an  amphitheatre  of  hills,  mostly  covered 
with  timber,  which  break  off  the  severe  cold  winds  of 
winter,  and  prevent  the  temperature  from  falling  as  low 
by  several  degrees,  as  a  few  miles  distant  upon  the  ridges. 

This  town  was  first  settled  in  1836,  by  J.  D.  Bell.  In 
that  year  this  site  was  selected  (by  authorised  Commis 
sioners,  one  of  whom  was  the  late  Captain  John  Atcheson) 
for  the  Capitol  of  the  then  Territory  of  Wisconsin ;  and 
but  for  some  difficulty  between  the  proprietors  of  the  land 
and  said  Commissioners,  this  would  have  then  been  made 
the  Capitol  of  Wisconsin  Territory,  which  at  that  time 
included  both  sides  of  the  river.  This  spot  had  always 
been  a  favorite  one  with  the  Indians,  and  its  beautiful 
location  caused  said  Commissioners  to  select  it  as  a  com 
manding  situation  for  the  Capitol. 

The  population  of  our  town  is  about  1000.  The  popu 
lation  of  the  county  is  fully  15,000,  and  emigrants  daily 
arriving. 

There  are  five  organized  churches  in  the  town,  viz., 
Congregationalist,  Episcopalian,  Methodist,  Baptist,  and 
Catholic — one  of  each. 


142  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 

The  first  sale  of  town  lots  took  place  in  1839. 

The  present  population  of  Jefferson  County  is  about 
13,000.  Population  of  Fairfield,  the  county-seat,  1500. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  population  is  from  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania.  In  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county  is  a 
settlement  of  Swedes,  consisting  at  present  of  about  100 
families.  Their  first  settlement  in  that  part  of  the  county 
was  made  in  1847. 

There  is  also  in  the  north-east  a  settlement  of  Germans. 

In  Fairfield  there  are  three  churches:  Presbyterian, 
Congregational,  and  Methodist. 

Two  newspapers  in  Fairfield,  the  "Fairfield  Ledger," 
(Whig),  and  the  "  Iowa  Sentinel,"  (Democrat). 

Jefferson  County  contains  88  schools,  and  65  school- 
houses,  59  of  which  are  frame,  the  remaining  6  brick. 
Total  amount  paid  teachers  during  the  year,  ending  Oct. 
31,  1854,  $5,538  12.  The  average  compensation  of  male 
teachers  for  the  same  time,  was  $20  35 — that  of  females, 
$9  97  !  Number  of  pupils  in  schools,  3622. 

A  branch  of  the  State  University  is  located  at  Fairfield. 
A  commodious  building  has  been  erected  for  the  accommo 
dation  of  pupils;  and  is  now  leased  to  a  company  of 
citizens,  who  have  established  a  flourishing  school  for 
young  men  and  boys,  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Anderson,  a 
teacher  of  experience  and  ability. 

There  is  also  a  Female  Seminary  in  this  place,  which  is 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  143 

in  a  prosperous  condition,  conducted  by  Kev.  L.  B.  Crit- 
tenden. 

Of  manufactories  the  principal  are  a  steam  saw-mill,  an 
iron  foundry,  a  sash  and  door  factory,  and  numerous  minor 
establishments.  We  need  a  steam  flouring-mill. 

A  United  States  Land  Office  is  located  in  this  place, 
which  has  been,  and  is  still  doing  an  extensive  business. 

There  are  several  thriving  villages  located  in  the  different 
sections  of  tlie  county,  among  which  are  Libertyville,  seven 
miles  south-west  from  Fairfield ;  Brookville  and  Abingdon, 
the  former  six,  and  the  latter  twelve  miles  west ;  Pleasant 
Plain,  twelve  miles  north ;  and  Glasgow  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county. 

There  are  three  extensive  nurseries  in  the  county.  A 
county  agricultural  society  was  organised  three  years  ago. 

The  eastern  part  is  well  timbered.  On  the  borders 
of  Skunk  River  and  its  tributaries,  are  fine  groves  of 
various  kinds  of  timber,  suitable  for  building  and  fencing 
purposes.  The  most  common  are  the  white  and  burr 
oak,  walnut,  elm,  cottonwood,  and  linn ;  sugar  maple 
is  found  in  some  places  on  Skunk  River.  The  western 
portion  of  the  county  is  principally  prairie,  interspersed 
with  some  groves  of  timber,  and  is  well  adapted  to  cultiva 
tion,  as  no  portion  of  that  land  is  too  broken,  and  none  too 
flat,  for  cultivation. 

There  is  no  land  of  any  consequence  in  this  county  that 
is  not  already  taken  up.  Much  good  land  is  owned  by 
non-residents. 


114  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

Farms  in  the  hands  of  residents  are  beginning  to  assume 
all  the  appearances  of  extensive  and  tasteful  cultivation. 

There  are  extensive  beds  of  coal  in  different  sections  of 
the  county.  Also  lime-stone  is  found  along  the  borders  of 
some  creeks. 

JOHNSON  COUNTY. 

Iowa  City  is  the  county-seat  of  Johnson  County,  and 
until  the  last  session  of  the  legislature,  was  the  capital  of 
the  state.  At  that  session  a  bill  was  passed,  removing  the 
seat  of  government  to  Fort  Des  Moines,  in  Polk  County, 
some  hundred  and  twenty  miles  further  west;  and  pro 
viding  for  the  erection  of  temporary  public  buildings,  to  be 
approved  by  the  governor,  before  a  session  of  the  General 
Assembly  will  be  holden  there. 

The  present  State  House  is  not  entirely  finished,  but  is 
an  elegant  edifice  of  stone;  capacious,  well  adapted  to 
legislative  and  other  public  purposes,  and  an  ornament  to 
the  city.  This  building,  with  its  extensive  grounds,  is  a 
grant  to  the  State  University,  and  will  be  appropriated  to 
its  use  immediately  upon  the  removal  of  the  State  offices 
and  legislative  sessions. 

The  University  has  an  ample  fund,  and  is  now  in  opera 
tion  in  this  city ;  well  provided  with  competent  professors, 
and  temporarily  occupying  what  is  known  as  the  Mechanics' 
Academy.  The  number  of  students  is  at  present  but  about 
forty,  as  the  first  session  was  opened  only  on  the  first  Mon 
day  of  March  last. 

Besides  this  infant  institution,  strong  in  resources  and 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  145 

promises,  there  is  the  Female  Collegiate  Institute,  in  suc 
cessful  operation.  This  institution  has  been  reared  to  its 
present  prosperity,  principally  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  this  city  and  other 
portions  of  the  State.  The  building  designed  for  this  semi 
nary,  will  be  completed,  probably,  during  the  present  year, 
and  no  expense  will  be  spared  to  render  it  equal  in  archi 
tectural  beauty  and  finish  to  any  in  Iowa. 

There  is,  also,  the  City  Union  School,  with  a  principal 
and  three  assistants,  besides  numerous  private  schools,  all 
thriving  finely.  There  is  no  town  in  the  state  better  sup 
plied  with  educational  advantages,  considering  its  population. 

There  are  two  newspapers  published  in  this  city,  the 
Republican,  a  Whig,  and  the  Capital  Reporter,  a  Demo 
cratic  journal;  connected  with  both  of  which  are  flourish 
ing  job-printing  offices.  By  an  act  of  the  last  Legislature, 
also,  the  State  Printer  will  hold  his  office  here,  until  the 
final  removal  of  the  seat  of  government. 

A  steam  grist-mill  is  now  operating  successfully  in  this 
city;  amount  of  business  not  known,  as  it  has  just  com 
menced  operations.  Another  is  to  be  erected  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Iowa  River  the  present  season.  About  three 
miles  west  of  town,  or  north-west,  are  Clarke's  flouring- 
mills,  clearing  their  owners  at  least  $10,000  per  annum. 

The  manufactories  most  needed  here  are  a  paper-mill,- 
plow  and  wagon  factory,  wool-carding  machines.  A  good 
foundry  and  brick-yard  would  also  pay  well. 

The  city  is  well  stocked  with  churches,  there  being 
no  less  than  seven  church  edifices,  and  eight  religious 
13 


146  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

societies.  Of  these,  there  are  one  Baptist,  built  of  brick  in 
superior  style ;  an  Old  School  Presbyterian,  Methodist, — 
Protestant  Methodist,  Catholic,  and  Universalist,  also  of 
brick,  and  very  creditable  structures ;  and  the  New  School 
Presbyterian,  a  neat  stone  edifice.  The  Episcopal  Society 
worships  in  the  basement  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

According  to  the  census  of  1854,  the  population  of  the 
city  was  3083 ;  which  is  probably  nearer  four  than  three 
thousa*  \t  the  present  time.  It  is  situated  at  the  con 
junction  of  two  great  contemplated  railroad  routes  :  the  one 
from  Davenport,  of  which  the  present  year  will  doubtless 
witness  the  completion  to  this  point  —  and  the  Lyons  road, 
in  which  the  city  is  also  deeply  interested,  which  will  pro 
bably  be  finished  in  at  least  fifteen  months. 

The  county  is  one  of  the  finest  agricultural  counties  in 
the  State — well  adapted  for  stock  raising ;  also  wheat,  corn, 
and  potatoes.  A  flourishing  Agricultural  Society  of  two 
years'  standing  is  organized,  and  an  immense  interest  is 
awakened  in  its  behalf.  The  population  at  the  last  census 
was  8446,  which  is  increasing  at  an  astonishing  rate. 

JASPER  COUNTY 

Is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Poweshiek,  west  by  Polk, 
north  by  Marshall,  and  south  by  Marion  and  a  portion  of 
Mahaska  Counties.  In  no  county  in  the  State,  perhaps,  is 
there  better  soil  for  all  purposes  than  in  Jasper. 

The  following  description  of  this  section  of  country  we 
insert,  from  a  communication  to  the  "  Iowa  City  Re 
porter": — 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  147 

ft  Probably  no  portion  of  our  State  surpasses  Central 
Iowa  in  point  of  beauty,  fertility,  healthfulness  of  climate, 
and  the  thriftiness  of  its  inhabitants. 

"  The  eye  is  pleased  with  the  alternation  of  oak  open 
ings,  timber  land,  and  the  crystal  streams  that  murmur 
along  their  channels,  guttered  out  of  the  prairies.  A  few 
years  have  elapsed  since  this  portion  of  our  State  was 
marked  by  the  Red  man's  track  and  the  simple  wigwam. 
Then  the  rich  agricultural  resources  of  Central  Iowa  were 
unknown  to  thousands  who  have  since  found  homes  in  the 
"  Prairie  Land."  Here  the  spirit  of  American  enterprise 
has  found  a  wide  field  for  action,  and,  by  its  magic  power, 
the  hidden  wealth  that  lies  in  the  fat  hill-sides  is  beginning 
to  flow  into  the  lap  of  Western  industry.  The  wigwam 
has  given  place  to  the  pioneer's  home,  and  the  sound  of  the 
Indian  rifle  has  died  away,  and  nought  is  heard  but  the 
sound  of  busy  industry.  Yes,  a  new  people,  possessing  a 
new  spirit,  are  now  on  the  prairies  of  Central  Iowa,  grap 
pling  with  the  "  strong-holds"  of  Nature,  and  building  up 
towns  and  cities  on  the  ground  where  a  few  short  years 
ago  was  seen  a  collection  of  wigwams.  The  contemplated 
line  of  railroad  from  Davenport  to  the  Missouri  River  runs 
through  this  portion  of  our  State,  and  truly  a  great  artery 
of  trade  will  be  demanded  by  the  rapid  growth  of  Western 
Iowa.  Nowhere  in  the  West  has  the  hand  of  Western  in 
dustry  effected  greater  changes  than  in  Jasper  County, 
from  which  I  now  write. 

"  In  1846,  the  Senatorial  Legislature  formed  it  out  of  a 
portion  of  Mahaska  County ;  and,  in  1847,  Newton,  the 


148  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

county-seat  of  Jasper,  was  laid  out  by  Thomas  Henderson 
and  Jacob  Fisher.  At  that  time  but  few  pioneers  had 
pushed  their  way  to  Central  Iowa,  but  the  way  had  been 
"  blazed"  by  the  founders  of  the  newly  laid-off  town,  and  in 
1848  a  few  log-cabins  were  erected  in  Newton.  A  more 
favorable  location  could  not  be  obtained.  It  is  on  the 
boundary  between  the  North  and  South  Skunk  Rivers.  The 
country  around  the  town-site  is  rolling  enough  to  render 
it  entirely  free  from  marshes,  or  anything  that  would  give 
rise  to  deleterious  miasmas.  Many  have  been  attracted  to 
the  place  by  the  healthfulness  of  its  position,  and  the 
country  around.  The  log-cabin  has  been  removed,  and  the 
stately  frame-dwelling  erected  in  its  stead;  the  "old  cabin" 
store-house  no  longer  greets  the  eye,  but  on  the  site  it 
occupied  stands  a  store-house  that  would  dp  credit  to 
towns  of  more  pretensions.  The  prospect  of  securing  a 
railroad  has  infused  a  new  zeal  into  the  citizens  of  tho 
place,  and  they  have  determined  to  erect  a  new  court-house 
on  the  square  which  will  reflect  credit  upon  the  enterpris 
ing  spirit  of  Newton.  The  Methodists  are  taking  steps  to 
build  a  new  church.  Mercantile  houses  are  being  erected 
as  fast  as  possible,  while  those  now  operating  are  driving  a 
heavy  business.  The  mechanic  and  farmer  are  also  keeping 
pace  with  the  prosperity  of  town  and  county. 

"  Large  quantities  of  fine  stone-coal  are  found  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  place,  and  the  traveller  often  finds 
it  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground.  When  we  consider  that 
this  article  seems  almost  inexhaustible,  there  can  scarcely 
be  a  question  as  to  the  profitableness  of  almost  any  branch 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  149 

of  mechanical  and  manufacturing  industry  which  may  be 
established  in  this  portion  of  our  State.  Lime-stone,  suit 
able  for  building  purposes,  is  found  on  the  banks  of  Elk 
Creek  and  Skunk  River;  this  one  article  greatly  facilitates 
the  operations  of  our  citizens  in  erecting  buildings,  and  in 
many  other  ways.  One  grist-mill  and  two  saw-mills  are 
now  in  successful  operation ;  but  the  demand  for  mills  is 
constantly  increasing.  Men  of  capital,  and  true  Western 
spirit,  are  making  arrangements  to  erect  forges  and  work 
shops,  which,  when  completed,  will  render  Newton  quite  a 
point  for  manufacturing." 

JONES  COUNTY 

i 

Was  first  settled  in  1836,  organized  in  1839,  and  the 
county-seat  located  at  Anamosa  in  May,  1847.  The  popu 
lation  of  the  county  in  October,  1854,  was  6300  —  being 
about  eleven  to  the  square  mile.  In  this  county  will  be 
found  a  due  proportion  of  timber  land  and  prairie  land; 
while  the  mill-sites  upon  the  Wabsipinnicon  are  numerous, 
and  building-stone  abundant.  Beside  the  Wapsie',  are  the 
North  and  South  Forks  of  the  Maquoketa,  Bear,  and 
Mineral  Creeks,  and  numerous  first-rate  springs  of  good 
water.  The  towns  in  the  county  are  Anamosa,  Rome, 
Bowen's  Prairie,  Fairview,  and  Monticello.  In  Anamosa 
is  published  one  newspaper,  "  The  News."  There  are  also 
one  Congregational  and  one  United  Brethren  church  edi 
fices,  and  organizations  each,  of  Methodists,  Christians,  and 
Universalists.  The  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows  each  have 
13* 


150  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

Lodges  there.  The  Iowa  Central  Air-Line  Railroad  passes 
through  the  county,  touching  at  Anamosa.  This  line  is 
located  and  under  contract  as  far  as  Marion,  Linn  County. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

DESCRIPTION   OF   COUNTIES — CONTINUED. 

KEOKUK  COUNTY 

Is  the  third  county  from  the  Mississippi  River  and  the 
Missouri  State-line;  situated  west  of  Washington,  and 
north-west  of  Jefferson  Counties.  The  land  is  of  an  excel 
lent  quality,  well  watered  by  the  Checauque  and  its  tribu 
taries,  which  are  skirted  with  a  good  supply  of  timber. 
Lancaster,  the  county-seat,  has  increased  very  rapidly  during 
the  past  two  years,  as  has  the  entire  county. 

The  Muscatine  and  Oskaloosa  Railroad,  which  is  under 
contract,  passes  through  the  county,  touching  the  county- 
seat.  Sigourney,  Waugh's  Point,  and  Richland  are  each 
centres  of  large  settlements  of  intelligent  and  industrious 
people ;  the  latter  place  is  settled  principally  by  Friends, 
or  Quakers. 

LEE  COUNTY 

Is  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Pes  Moines  Rivers,  and  is  the  most  southern  county  in  the 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  151 

state;  it  is  bounded  on  the  south-east  by  the  Mississippi, 
which  separates  it  from  Illinois ;  on  the  south-west  by  the 
Des  Moines,  separating  it  from  Missouri ;  on  the  west  by 
Van  Buren ;  and  on  the  north  by  Henry  and  Des  Moiues 
'Counties.  The  county  is  well  watered  by  the  Des  Moines 
and  Mississippi  and  their  tributaries.  The  principal  towns 
are  Keokuk,  Montrose,  Fort  Madison,  "West  Point,  Frank 
lin,  Nashville,  &c. 

The  bottom-lands  of  Lee  are  well  adapted  to  the  wants  of 
the  agriculturist,  and  its  prairies  are  elevated,  dry  and  roll 
ing.  The  business  of  stock-raising  has  been  entered  into 
in  Lee  more  extensively  perhaps  than  in  any  other  county. 

The  city  of  Keokuk,  the  largest  place  in  the  county,  is 
situated  at  the  foot  of  the  Des  Moines  or  Lower  Rapids,  at 
the  extreme  south-east  corner  of  the  state.  By  the  usual 
routes  of  travel  it  is  230  miles  from  Chicago;  210  from 
St.  Louis ;  400  from  the  junction  of  the  Ohio  and  Missis 
sippi  ;  1000  from  New  York ;  and  1400  from  New  Orleans. 
Its  position  as  a  central  commercial  point  is  scarcely 
equalled  by  that  of  any  other  city  west  of  Chicago,  and 
endows  it  with  business  advantages  and  facilities  of  the 
highest  importance.  These  advantages  are  three-fold,  and 
may  be  treated  of  under  the  three  following  heads,  viz  : — 

First,  those  derived  from  the  navigation  of  the  Missis 
sippi.  The  Lower  Rapids,  formed  by  a  rocky  stratum  in 
the  river,  commencing  about  200  yards  above  the  city,  and 
running  northward  a  distance  of  12  miles,  with  a  fall  of  24 
feet,  render  Keokuk  the  head  of  navigation  during  a  great 
portion  of  the  year,  until  the  work  of  improving  the  Rapids 


152  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

is  completed.  At  present,  in  time  of  low  water,  steamers 
are  obliged  to  unload  their  cargoes  into  "  lighters/'  which 
are  towed  up  the  Rapids,  above  which  the  freight  is  again 
loaded  into  the  boats ;  and  thus  this  city  is  rendered  a 
wholesale  depot,  and  place  of  transhipment. 

The  second  point  lies  in  the  trade  of  the  Des  Moines 
Valley  which  Keokuk  must  inevitably  command,  situated 
but  2  miles  above  the  confluence  of  the  Des  Moines  and 
Mississippi  Rivers.  This  valley,  for  a  width  of  sixty  miles 
on  either  side  of  the  Des  Moines  River,  is  unsurpassed 
probably  in  the  world  for  agricultural  wealth.  It  also 
abounds  in  timber,  coal,  gypsum,  and  many  other  articles 
of  trade,  and  these  will  be  transmitted  down  the  Des 
Moines  to  its  mouth  at  Keokuk,  thence  re-shipped  to  other 
markets.  Of  the  improvement  of  the  Des  Moines  we 
speak  at  length  in  another  Chapter. 

The  third  source  of  business  advantages  which  Keokuk 
can  claim,  lies  in  its  railroads.  The  Keokuk  and  Fort  Des 
Moines,  the  Keokuk,  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Muscatine,  and  the 
Eastern  railroads  will  soon  be  built,  and  will  afford  this 
city  numerous  connections  of  the  highest  importance. 

Keokuk  is  situated  upon  a  bluff  150  feet  above  high- 
water  mark  in  the  Mississippi,  is  laid  out  one  mile  square, ' 
and  contains  a  population  of  nearly  7000.     Its  streets  are  , 
wide  and  regular,  and  are  being  graded  and  McAdamized 
with  rapidity.     Main  Street,  100  feet  in  width,  is  McAdam 
ized  through  the  city  for  a  distance  of  one  mile.     The  city 
contains  six  brick-yards,  two  lumber-yards,  one  flouring  and 
grist-mill,  two  foundries,  one  machine  shop,  five  hotels,  &c. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  153 

Its  public  school  is  held  in  the  largest  and  handsomest 
building,  which,  throughout  the  State,  is  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  education.  The  edifice,  when  fully  completed, 
will  have  cost  $13,500.  This  city  also  contains  the  Iowa 
Medical  College,  a  State  institution,  and  a  Female  Semi 
nary,  besides  two  other  female  institutes,  and  a  number  of 
private  schools.  Six  church  edifices,  0.  and  N.  S.  Presby 
terian,  Baptist,  Methodist,  Episcopalian  and  Catholic.  One 
weekly  and  two  daily  newspapers. 

The  bluff  on  which  the  city  stands  contains  the  finest 
of  lime-stone,  for  building  and  other  purposes,  and  com 
mands  a  landscape  view,  of  wild  and  picturesque  beauty. 

LINN  COUNTY 

Is  a  large  and  comparatively  populous  tract.  The  towns 
in  the  county  are,  Marion,  (the  county-seat),  Mt.  Ver- 
non,  Spring  Grove  P.  0.,  Boulder  P.  0.,  Central  Point, 
Cedar  P.  0.,  Oak  P.  0.,  Palo  P.  0,  Lafayette,  Cedar 
Rapids,  Newark,  St.  Julien,  Ivanhoe,  and  Hoosier  Grove. 

The  present  population  of  the  county  is  10,075. 

Newspapers  are  published  at  Marion  and  Cedar  Rapids. 

The  number  of  churches  and  schools  in  the  county,  or 
even  of  towns,  other  than  Mt.  Vernon,  we  are  unable  to 
state,  but  are  informed  that  no  county  in  the  State,  of  the 
same  population,  has  more  of  either,  in  better  condition. 

The  "  Iowa  Conference  Seminary,"  is  located  at  Mount 
Vernon — has  a  brick  edifice  40  by  72  feet,  3  stories  high. 
It  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  under  the  superintend 
ence  of  Rev.  S.  M.  Fellows,  A.  M.,  assisted  by  three  regu- 


154  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

lar  teachers,  besides  music  teacher,  and  teacher  of  painting 
and  embroidery.  Number  of  students  now  in  attendance 
about  150.  Most  of  them  young  ladies  and  gentlemen 
from  abroad.  The  situation  is  unsurpassed  for  beauty. 

There  is  a  good  district  school  in  the  village,  with  a  good 
school-house. 

Mills  are  very  much  needed,  and  would  do  well.  There 
is  a  large  amount  of  timber  in  the  neighbourhood,  for 
sawing. 

The  surrounding  country  is  one  of  the  finest  agricultural 
regions  in  the  State.  The  farmers  have  already  erected 
pretty  good  buildings,  and  every  year  improvements  are 
going  forward. 

Linn  County  is  considered  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the 
best  in  the  State ;  and  the  country  around  Mt.  Vernon  13 
acknowledged  equal  to  any  portion  of  the  county. 

The  location  of  the  Seminary  at  this  place,  in  connection 
with  the  real  excellence  of  the  country,  makes  this  one  of 
the  most  desirable  situations  for  a  family  residence  that  can 
be  found  in  the  West. 

We  are  about  70  miles  from  Dubuque,  55  from  Daven 
port;  45  from  Muscatine;  20  from  Iowa  City;  12  from 
Marion  (the  county-seat);  and  14  from  Cedar  Rapids. 

LOUISA  COUNTY. 

This  is  a  rich  and  fertile  county,  bordering  on  the  Mis 
sissippi  ;  bounded  on  the  west  by  Washington  and  Henry 
Counties,  on  the  north  by  Muscatine,  and  on  the  south  by 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  155 

Des  Moines  Counties.  The  county  is  well  watered  by  the 
Iowa  River,  which  passes  diagonally  through  it.  J.  B. 
Newhall,  Esq.,  in  his  "  Glimpses  of  Iowa,"  thus  describes 
Louisa  County : — 

"  Wapello  Prairie,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Iowa  River, 
is  unrivalled  in  picturesque  beauty.  It  commences  near 
the  village  of  Florence,  the  site  of  the  old  Sac  village,  and, 
crossing  a  small  rivulet  skirted  with  woods,  it  breaks  forth 
upon  the  eye  of  the  traveller  in  picturesque  grandeur,  ter 
minating  in  the  north-west  with  the  town  of  Wapello,  the 
county-seat  of  Louisa. 

"  This  county  embraces  a  principal  portion  of  the  Keo- 
kuk  Reserve,  purchased  by  the  Government  in  1836.  It 
is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  almost  the  whole  tribe  of  Sacs 
and  Foxes  were  congregated  here  until  after  the  first  or 
Black  Hawk  purchase  of  1832 ;  notwithstanding  they  had 
almost  a  boundless  region  from  which  to  select  their  vil 
lages  and  hunting-grounds. 

"  Wapello,  the  seat  of  justice,  is  handsomely  located  on 
the  old  site  of  ( Wapello's  Village.'  Wapello  was  a  Fox 
chief,  who  resided  there  until  the  summer  of  1836,  as  chief 
of  his  band.  There  are  several  small  villages  in  Louisa, 
among  which  are  Toolsboro',  Columbus  City,  Harrison, 
Florence,  Fredonia,  &c.  Toolsboro' — formerly  Black  Hawk, 
— is  situated  upon  the  north  side  of  the  Iowa,  about  three 
miles  from  the  Mississippi,  has  an  extensive  country  trade, 
and  is  somewhat  celebrated  for  its  ancient  mounds  and 
fortifications. 

"  Florence  derives  its  principal  notoriety  from  its  having 


156  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

been  the  residence  of  Black  Hawk  until  the  Indian  hos 
tilities  in  1832.  Here  repose  the  bones  of  his  ancestors, 
where  they  have  rested  for  centuries.  It  was  here  that  he 
sounded  the  war-whoop,  and  rallied  his  countrymen  to  the 
last  deadly  conflict,  in  defence  of  the  homes  and  the  graves 

"  'Where  sleep  their  warriors ;  where  rival  chieftains  lay, 
And  mighty  tribes,  swept  from  the  face  of  day." 

"  But  they  were  conquered,  and  this  illustrious  warrior  wag 
doomed  to  wander,  a  stranger  in  the  land  of  his  forefathers. 
His  lodge  was  still  standing  at  the  time  the  country  was 
surveyed." 

MAHASKA  COUNTY, 

Of  which  Oskaloosa  is  the  county-seat,  is  a  thriving  and 
populous  county  for  its  age.  The  first  settlements  in  the 
county  were  made  in  1842,  on  the  public  land,  and  in  June? 
1843,  the  county-seat  was  organized  by  commissioners  ap 
pointed  by  the  Legislature.  The  present  population  of  Os 
kaloosa  is  nearly  3000. 

The  county  is  well  supplied  with  churches  and  schools. 
Of  the  former  are  Methodist,  Christian,  Seceder,  0.  S. 
Presbyterian,  and  Cumberland  Presbyterian. 

The  "  Times"  and  the  «  Herald,"  are  both  published  in 
Oskaloosa. 

Two  public  and  two  private  schools  at  the  county-seat,  in 
good  condition. 

Of  manufactories,  two  steam  saw-mills,  and  one  steam 
flowing-mill,  a  carding  and  spinning-machine,  with  smaller 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  157 

establishments,  comprise  the  assortment.     Manufactories  of 
any  kind  will  do  well  here. 

The  county  is  unsurpassed  for  fertility  of  soil,  abundance 
and  quality  of  water,  &c.  The  county-seat  is  reported  to 
be  the  largest  inland  town  in  the  State,  and  with  the  splen 
did  country  that  surrounds  it,  and  the  railroad  connections 
that  are  hastening  to  link  that  place  with  the  rest  of  mankind, 
the  prospects  are  that  it  will  soon  be  a  large  and  important 
business  point. 

MARION  COUNTY 

Was  settled  in  October,  1845,  by  Wilson  Stanley,  L.  Gr. 
Terry,  L.  W.  Babbitt,  Dr.  R.  Mathews,  E.  &  T.  Jenkins, 
J.  D.  Bedell,  and  E.  Gr.  Stanfield.  The  present  popula 
tion  of  the  county  is  11,065 — of  Knoxville,  the  county- 
seat,  600. 

In  the  county-seat  are  one  Methodist,  and  one  Congrega 
tional,  edifices.  The  different  denominations  are  Methodist, 
Lutheran,  Congregational,  Presbyterian,  Baptist,  Mission 
ary  Baptist,  Associate  Reformed,  and  United  Brethren. 

The  number  of  public  schools  is  stated  to  be  sixty-six. 
Two  high  schools— one  in  Knoxville,  another  in  Pella — all 
in  a  prosperous  condition.  A  college  is  being  erected  in 
Pella  by  the  Missionary  Baptists. 

Several  steam  saw  and  fiouring-mills  in  operation,  but 
threefold  more  needed.  Also  manufactories  of  all  kinds 
wanted. 

Soil  good  for  farming  purposes,  timber  plenty,  water 
abundant  and  excellent.  Prairie  unsurpassed  by  any  in  the 
Union.  Climate  good.  Winters  admirably  adapted  for 


158  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

stock,  owing  to  their  dryness  and  evenness.  Stone-coal, 
of  excellent  quality,  abounds  in  veins  eight  feet  thick. 
Splendid  lime  and  sandstone,  for  building  purposes,  abun 
dant. 

The  towns  in  the  county  are,  Knoxville,  Pella,  Divide, 
Bennington,  Paran  City,  Wheeling  P.  0.,  Kousseau,  Plea- 
santville,  Red  Rock,  Amsterdam,  Pt.  English,  English  P. 
O.,  Bellefontaine,  Attica  P.  0.,  Red  Cedar  P.  0.,  Newtown, 
Newburn,  Marysville  P.  0.,  and  Hamilton  P.  O. 

A  newspaper  is  now  published  at  Pella,  and  another  is 
about  to  be  established  in  Knoxville. 

MONROE  COUNTY 

"Was  organized  in  1843,  and  the  county-seat  "  laid  off" 
in  1844.  Present  population  of  the  county  4200 — of  Al- 
bia,  the  county-seat,  400. 

The  Methodists  have  a  good  frame  meeting-house.  The 
Presbyterians  are  just  building  a  good  brick  edifice,  which 
will  be  finished  this  summer.  The  society  of  Christians  will 
build  next  season. 

Here  are  one  steam  mill,  one  plough  manufactory,  a 
carding  machine,  and  a  full  supply  of  stores  and  of  pro 
fessional  men. 

The  only  newspaper  in  the  county  is  the  "  Albia  Free 
Press." 

One  public  and  one  private  school  in  Albia,  each  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

Steam  flouring-mills,  saw-mills,  coopering  establishments, 
cabinet-ware  manufactories,  and  any  number  of  industrious 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  159 

mechanics  are  greatly  needed  here.  At  present  the  cooper 
age  for  pork,  lard  and  flour,  is  obtained  from  a  great  dis 
tance,  at  decided  disadvantage. 

This  county  is  as  well  watered  as  any  portion  of  the 
State.  The  principal  streams  which  have  their  rise  in,  or 
pass  through  the  county,  are  Cedar  Creek,  Whippoorwill 
Creek,  White's  Creek,  and  Coal  Creek ;  the  three  latter,  with 
numerous  smaller  streams,  emptying  into  Cedar  Creek,  ren 
der  it  of  proper  size  and  power  for  mill-sites,  and  there  are 
now  five  mills  erected  on  this  stream,  doing  business  more 
than  half  the  year.  Bluff's,  Gray's,  Miller's,  Avery's,  and 
Soap  Creeks,  are  each,  streams  of  some  size,  and  skirted 
with  timber  averaging  nearly  a  mile  in  width. 

Throughout  the  county  the  soil  is  very  good ;  the  prairies 
are  small,  high,  and  fertile.  An  abundance  of  timber,  coal, 
and  limestone  may  be  found  in  most  parts  of  the  county. 
The  best  land  is  entered,  but  claims  to  some  of  the  very 
best  can  be  bought  at  from  five  to  ten  dollars  per  acre. 
The  county  is  increasing  in  numbers  very  rapidly,  and 
offers  great  inducements  to  manufacturers,  mechanics, 
farmers,  and  citizens  of  all  classes. 

MILLS  COUNTY. 

Grlenwood,  the  county-seat,  was  first  settled  by  the  Mor 
mons,  in  1847,  and  this  was  about  the  first  settlement  in 
the  county;  but  that  population  has  long  since  been 
almost  entirely  supplanted  by  people  from  Michigan,  New 
York,  Ohio,  and  Missouri. 

The  present  population  of  the  town  is  about  seven  hun 
dred  —  that  of  the  county  about  five  thousand. 


160  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

There  are  three  churches  in  the  place,  viz. :  Methodist, 
Congregationalist,  and  Presbyterian  (Old  School)  :  in  the 
county,  ten  churches,  same  denominations. 

Two  newspapers  published  in  the  county :  the  "  Glenwood 
Times,"  and  the  "St.  Mary's  Gazette/' 

There  are  a  large  Union  School  and  two  District 
Schools  in  the  town,  and  about  twenty  common  schools  in 
the  county,  all  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  supplied 
with  good  teachers.  There  is  still  a  great  demand  for 
teachers. 

They  have  one  flouring  and  two  saw-mills  —  the  two 
latter  driven  by  steam.  There  are  fifteen  mills  in  the  county? 
one  carding-machine,  and  a  shingle  mill.  All  of  the 
above-named  are  over-stocked  with  business,  and  there  is 
abundance  of  room  for  others.  Cabinet-makers,  weavers, 
cloth-fullers,  tanners,  house-builders,  and  every  class  of  me 
chanics,  are  much  needed. 

Mills  County  is  composed  of  the  most  fertile  prairie, 
interspersed  with  magnificent  groves  of  timber,  with  here 
and  there  an  hundred  little  streams  spread  out  and  inter 
laced  over  the  face  of  the  whole  country,  like  the  veins  and 
arteries  in  a  mighty  living  giant.  The  river  bottom  here  is 
about  eight  miles  wide,  as  level  as  a  floor,  yet  dry  and 
subject  to  no  dangers  from  overflows.  Cattle  live  in  these 
bottoms  all  winter  without  feeding.  No  county  in  the 
State  possesses  a  more  munificent  supply  of  water  and  tim 
ber  than  Mills.  Owing  to  its  geographical  position,  imme 
diately  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  great  Platte  River,  it  may 
safely  be  said  that  the  county,  in  interest  and  importance,  is 


*=. 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  161 

inferior  to  none  in  the  State.  It  has  not  its  equal  in  any 
State  for  perfect  adaptation  to  agricultural  purposes.  It 
possesses  a  most  salubrious  climate.  There  is  plenty  of 
lime  and  sand-stone  in  all  parts  of  the  county,  perfectly 
adapted  to  building  purposes.  There  has  also  been  some 
stone-coal  discovered  recently. 

There  are  four  other  towns  in  the  county  beside  Glen- 
wood,  viz. :  St.  Mary's,  Bethlehem,  Platteville,  and  Lafa 
yette  —  all  flourishing  villages. 

There  is  still  considerable  good  land  unentered  in  the 
county. 

MUSCATINE  COUNTY 

Is  situated  next  below  Scott  County,  on  the  Mississippi 
River,  and  contains  an  area  of  432  square  miles.  The  name 
of  this  county  was  derived  from  a  tribe  of  Indians  known 
as  the  Muscoutins.  The  county-town  was  originally  called 
Bloomington,  which  name  it  still  holds  on  a  few  old-fogy 
maps  and  tables  of  distances.  In  1845  the  name  was 
changed  to  that  of  the  county  —  Muscatine.  In  1853  it 
was  incorporated  as  a  city,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
called  the  "City  of  Muscatine."  The  present  population 
of  Muscatine  City  is  about  4600 ;  of  the  county,  including 
the  city,  12,100. 

The  city  contains  nine  churches,  with  a  total  number  of 
nearly  one  thousand  members ;  two  steam  flouring-mills,  two 
steam  saw-mills,  one  stave  and  three  shingle  machines  (all 
driven  by  steam) ;  seven  hotels,  two  public  school-houses, 
(one  erected  in  1850,  at  a  cost  of  $4000;  the  other  more 
14* 


162  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

recently,  costing  $5000).     Upwards  of  300  children  are  in 
daily  attendance  at  these  schools. 

Situated  on  a  bend  or  arm  of  the  river,  Muscatine  is  fa- 
vorahly  located  to  command  the  trade  of  a  large  section  of 
country.  From  the  following  statistics  for  the  year  1854, 
some  idea  may  be  gained  of  the  amount  of  business  done 
in  that  city: — 

Produce  received  in  Muscatine  in  1854. 
Wheat bushels,  393, 5 7<>  |  Timothy  Seed,  bushels,  160 


Rye "  3,176 

Corn «  121,902 

Oats    "  28,242 

Barley "  2  i  0 

Beans  "  3,550 


Flaxseed "  716 

Beeswax pounds,        1,050 

Dry  hides "  57,380 

Wool "  2,228 

Hogs,  cut  13,000 


Potatoes   "         11,317 

The  average  weight  of  hogs  was  220  pounds. 

Manufactured  in  Muscatine  in  1854. 

Flour,  barrels 29,515 

Cooperage — Pork  barrels 9,800 

Flour  barrels 56,300 

Whiskey  barrels 550 

Staves  ready  for  setting  up,  and  shipped 1,000,000 

Bedsteads  (from  the  log) 2,900 

Plastering  laths 1,433,100 

Broom  handles 50,000 

Window  sash,  No.  of  lights 100,000 

Pine  lumber,  feet 2,261,900 

Shingles 1,126,500 

The  city  of  Muscatine  is  located  upon  uncommonly 
broken  ground,  and  a  majority  of  the  lots,  either  for  busi 
ness  or  residences,  require  grading ;  the  citizens,  however, 
are  of  that  clasp,  who,  appreciating  the  superiority  of  their 
location  in  other  respects,  have  by  art  made  smooth  Nature's 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  163 

rough  places,  and  tasteful  and  stately  residences  now  grace 
bluffs,  which,  but  a  few  months  ago,  were  almost  inacces 
sible. 

Two  newspapers  are  published  in  Muscatine :  a  Whig, 
weekly  and  tri-weekly ;  and  a  Democratic,  weekly. 

The  inhabitants  have  the  character  of  being  second  to 
none  in  the  State  in  point  of  intelligence  and  industry. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

DESCRIPTION   OP  COUNTIES — CONTINUED. 

POLK  COUNTY 

Was  opened  for  settlement  in  May,  1846.  The  garrison 
was  removed  in  July  of  that  year,  and  in  the  same  month 
and  year,  the  town  of  Fort  Des  Moines  was  laid  out. 

The  population  of  Polk  County  is  upwards  of  6000 ;  that 
of  Fort  Des  Moines,  1100. 

In  the  county  are  Episcopal,  Presbyterian  (Old  and 
New  School),  Baptist,  Methodist,  and  Catholic  churches — 
the  latter  but  recently  established. 

But  one  newspaper  in  the  county — the  "  Fort  Des  Moines 
Star." 

Two  private  schools  and  one  public  school  in  Fort  Des 
Moines  j  the  former  in  good  condition,  affording  a  respect 
able  academic  course  for  young  ladies  and  gentlemen.  A 


164  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

large  District  school-house,  on  the  "  Union"  plan,  is  in 
course  of  erection,  to  be  completed  this  fall,  costing  some 
$6000. 

The  Des  Moines  River  passes  diagonally  through  Polk 
County,  entering  at  the  north-west  and  passing  out  at  the 
south-east  corner.  Raccoon  River  empties  into  this  river 
at  Fort  Des  Moines.  Both  of  these  streams  afford  nume 
rous  sites  for  manufactories  and  mills.  There  are  several 
grist  and  saw-mills  in  the  county,  but  not  a  tithe  of  the 
number  that  are  needed.  Our  correspondent  writes :  "We 
need  more  shops  of  all  descriptions,  and,  above  all,  manu 
factories.  We  want  flouring-mills  and  saw-mills — more  of 
them,  and  on  a  larger  scale.  We  want  brick-makers,  car 
penters,  cabinet-makers,  brick  and  stone  masons,  plasterers, 
and,  in  short,  mechanics  of  all  kinds.  We  want  water- 
wheels  and  steam-engines,  farmers,  machinists,  and  day 
laborers/' 

Polk  County,  as  well  as  those  adjoining,  and  those  far 
ther  north  and  west,  is  high,  rolling  prairie,  with  a  due  pro 
portion  of  timber,  and  is  well  watered  with  rivers  and 
creeks,  the  banks  of  which  abound  in  coal,  lime,  sand 
stone,  and  gypsum  in  great  quantities. 

The  last  session  of  the  Legislature  located  the  Capital  of 
the  State  at  Fort  Des  Moines,  since  which  time  that  place 
has  been  almost  besieged  by  lawyers,  doctors,  agents,  and 
land  speculators. 

Fort  Des  Moines  is  destined  to  be  one  of,  if  not  the,  largest 
interior  city  in  the  State. 

Of  other  towns  and  villages  in  the  county,  we  would 


llfiii 

T;  "  ,fV:Ji; 'i' 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  165 

mention  Polk  City,  Corydon,  Taylorsville,  West  Liberty, 
Circleville,  Union,  Adelphi,  Harvey,  Rising  Sun,  and 
Jericho. 

SCOTT  COUNTY 

Is  situated  on  the  Mississippi  (which  bounds  it  on  the 
east  and  south),  and  is  the  lower  one  of  the  trio  which 
occupy  a  front  and  central  rank  among  the  counties  bor 
dering  on  the  river.  The  first  permanent  settlement  in 
the  county  was  made  by  Antoine  Le  Claire,  in  the  spring 
of  1833.  During  the  next  year  several  families  and  com 
panies  of  whites  crossed  over  as  "  squatters,"  settling  upon 
such  "  claims"  as  might  suit  their  fancy.  Mr.  Le  Claire 
was  for  many  years  intimately  and  responsibly  identified 
with  our  government  in  its  intercourse  with  the  Indians 
of  the  north-west,  being  in  government  service,  as  inter 
preter  and  Indian  agent,  from  1813  to  1843  —  30  years ; 
and  in  some  ten  or  twelve  important  treaties,  he  was  the 
principal  or  only  interpreter,  and  as  such  attended  the 
government  officers  on  the  occasion.  His  familiarity  with 
some  fourteen  Indian  dialects,  as  well  as  with  the  English 
and  French  languages,  and  his  being  the  great-grand-son 
of  a  chief,  and  his  wife  the  descendant  of  another,  gave 
him  an  influence  with,  and  a  knowledge  of  the  Indian 
tribes,  such  as  no  other  individual  of  his  day  possessed. 

The  marquee  of  Gen.  Scott,  in  which  was  held  the 
treaty  with  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians,  was  erected  upon  the 
identical  spot,  which  has,  since  1833,  been  occupied  by 
Mr.  Le  Claire  as  a  residence.  On  the  preceding  page  is 


166  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

presented  a  view  of  the  Le  Claire  Homestead,  which  was 
occupied  as  a  residence  by  Mr.  Le  Claire  from  1813  to 
1854.  In  the  spring  of  1854  it  was  given  up  to  the  Mis 
sissippi  and  Missouri  Railroad  Company,  as  a  location  for 
their  passenger  dep6t. 

At  the  period  of  the  treaty  made  by  Gen.  Scott,  the 
cholera  was  prevailing  among  the  soldiers  in  the  Fort,  and 
the  meeting,  instead  of  being  held  on  the  Island,  was,  from 
prudential  considerations,  transferred  to  the  main  shore, 
though  not  outside  of  the  range  of  the  guns  of  the  Fort. 
It  was  in  this  marquee  that  the  chief  of  the  Sacs  made  a 
present  of  a  mile  square  of  land  to  Mrs.  Le  Claire,  and, 
striking  his  foot  upon  the  turf,  told  Mr.  Le  Claire  that  the 
only  condition  he  asked  was  that  he  should  build  his  house 
upon  that  spot — a  condition  that  was  speedily  complied  with. 

The  treaty  was  held  in  the  fall  of  1832,  and  ratified  by 
Congress  the  following  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1833,  Mr. 
Le  Claire  erected  a  small  building,  or  "  shanty,"  in  the 
then  Fox  village,  u  Morgan,"  which  had  occupied  this 
ground  for  years  previous.  Of  the  tribe  having  this  as 
their  head-quarters,  Maquopom  was  the  head  warrior,  and 
Powesheik  head  chief.  In  the  fall  of  1834,  the  Sac  and 
Fox  Indians  left  here  for  the  Cedar  River.  In  the  spring 
of  1836  the  town  of  Davenport  was  laid  out. 
I  Of  the  climate  and  scenery  of  Scott  County,  Mr.  New-' 
hall,  in  his  Glimpse  of  Iowa,  thus  speaks: — "Ever  since 
the  earliest  settlement  of  Iowa,  this  portion  has  been  justly 
esteemed  among  the  most  desirable  and  fascinating  regions 
of  the  boundless  West.  Being  entirely  free  from  low 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  167 

bottom-lands,  (the  usual  cause  of  disease),  it  was  early 
selected  by  the  sagacious  pioneers,  as  one  of  the  favored 
spots  of  the  Upper  Mississippi  Yalley.  Perhaps  no  coun 
try  in  the  world  presents  so  happy  a  combination  of  pic 
turesque  beauties,  blended  with  excellence  of  soil,  and  salu 
brity  of  climate,  as  the  vicinity  of  Rock  Island.  All  who 
have  ever  visited  this  charming  region,  concur  in  expres 
sing  their  admiration  of  the  surpassing  beauties  of  Nature's 
inimitable  works." 

For  some  ten  miles  on  the  river,  above  and  below  Daven 
port,  the  bluffs  are  very  wide,  varying  from  one  to  two  miles, 
leaving  a  large  amount  of  bottom  land  for  cultivation.  By 
the  word  bluff,  we  do  not  mean  here  an  abrupt,  perpendi 
cular  precipice  of  rocks ;  the  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi  at 
this  point,  and  for  twenty  miles  up  and  down  the  river,  are 
generally  a  gentle  slope  from  the  top  to  the  banks  of  the 
river,  and  their  elevation  is  about  100  feet  above  low- 
water-mark.  From  the  top  of  these  bluffs,  one  beholds 
Davenport  spread  out  upon  a  gently  sloping  plain  nearly 
two  miles  long,  and  one-half  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
wide,  fronting  on  the  river,  which  runs,  at  this  point, 
nearly  west;  and  the  streets  range  parallel  to  the  four 
cardinal  points  of  the  compass.  For  miles  below,  the 
mighty  Mississippi  rolls  on  its  placid  waters,  curling  amid 
its  many  islands  in  picturesque  grandeur,  until  lost  in  I 
the  distance ;  while  to  the  east,  for  ten  miles,  a  most  beau 
tiful  panoramic  view  is  presented  of  the  river,  its  islands 
and  bluffs.  In  the  distance  are  the  towns  of  Hampton 
and  Moline,  upon  the  Illinois  shore ;  in  front  of  you,  and 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


168  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

beyond  the  town  of  Rock  Island,  away  in  the  distance,  are 
seen  the  windings  of  llock  River,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
streams  in  the  west.  The  tower  of  Black  Hawk  is  also  in 
full  view,  overlooking  the  great  valley  at  the  junction  of 
Rock  River  with  the  Mississippi.  It  was  in  this  valley — 
at  the  forks  of  Rock  River  and  the  Mississippi  —  that  the 
village  of  Black  Hawk  was  situated.  Here,  it  was  said,  he 
lived  in  peace  and  plenty,  with  his  immense  fields  of  corn, 
and  supplied  with  game  and  fish,  that  abounded  in  the 
neighbourhood.  It  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  greatest 
trials  of  Black  Hawk's  life  to  give  up  this  country,  and 
not  only  leave  the  graves  of  his  people  to  the  ruthless 
encroachments  of  the  white  man,  but  to  part  with  his  fa 
vorite  fishing  and  hunting-grounds.  Is  it  a  wonder,  then, 
that,  after  a  treaty  had  been  signed  by  Keokuk,  the  civil 
chief  of  the  tribe,  contrary  to  the  wishes  and  design  of 
Black  Hawk,  he  refused  to  leave  this  lovely  spot,  the 
scenes  of  his  childhood,  the  sports  of  his  manhood,  and 
the  last  resting-place  of  his  ancestors  ? 

Rock  Island  is  about  three  miles  in  length,  with  an  aver 
age  width  of  half  a  mile,  and  contains  therefore  nearly  one 
thousand  acres.  The  rapids  commence  some  twelve  miles 
above  it  and  terminate  at  its  foot.  Moline  and  the  city  of 
Rock  Island,  on  the  Illinois  shore,  are  opposite  its  extreme 
endings,  and  the  city  of  Davenport  and  East  Davenport 
occupy  nearly  the  same  relation  to  it  on  the  Iowa  side.  At 
the  foot  of  the  Island  stands  old  Fort  Armstrong,  built  in 
1816  by  Col.  Mason,  U.  S.  A.  Half  a  mile  distant,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Island,  is  the  residence  of  the  late  Col. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  169 

Davenport,  who  was  for  more  than  30  years  a  partner  in 
the  American  Fur  Company,  and  an  Indian  trader.  On  the 
4th  of  July,  1845,  a  band  of  robbers  entered  his  beautiful 
residence  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  in  the  absence  of  his 
family,  and  in  robbing  him  accidentally  shot  him  ;  he  died 
the  same  night.  After  having  lived  a  frontier  life  for  so  many 
years,  and  having  passed  through  a  long  and  bloody  Indian 
war,  he  was  doomed  to  die  by  the  hands  of  desperadoes. 
All  the  murderers  were  taken ;  three  were  hung  at  Rock 
Island,  the  same  year — but  two  escaped,  and  are  yet  at 
large.  From  1837  to  ;40,  and  up  to  745,  Iowa  and  north 
ern  Illinois  were  infested  by  the  most  daring  set  of  outlaws 
that  have  ever  visited  the  western  world.  But  the  supre 
macy  of  the  laws  has  banished  them  from  our  midst,  and 
Iowa  is  again  comparatively  free  from  crime. 

The  Island  is  now  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  young 
timber,  of  every  variety,  that  flourishes  in  this  climate.  Forty 
years  ago,  Mr.  Le  Claire  states,  this  ground  was  covered 
by  a  very  dense  forest,  but  the  soldiers  stationed  in  the  Fort 
and  the  early  settlers  of  the  country,  destroyed  much  of  it 
for  fuel  and  other  purposes,  and  finally  fire  was  communi 
cated  to  the  bed  of  leaves  which  had  accumulated  there  for 
ages,  and  swept  the  Island  of  its  crowning  glory.  The 
present  growth  of  timber  dates  its  origin  subsequent  to  this, 
fire. 

"  The  Island,  with  the  exception  of  a  fractional  quarter 

section  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres,  which  was 

given  to  Col.  Davenport,  belongs  to  the  government.    The 

motives  which  led  to  withholding  it  from  sale,  so  long  as 

15 


170  DESCRIPTION     OF    COUNTIES. 

Fort  Armstrong  was  occupied,  and  there  remained  a  neces 
sity  of  keeping  an  armed  force  in  this  vicinity,  are  evident 
enough.  But  the  Fort  was  really  abandoned  in  1835,  and 
the  policy  which  has  induced  the  government  to  retain  its 
hold  upon  the  Island  since  that  period,  is  not  so  apparent. 
Numerous  efforts  have  been  made  to  obtain  an  order  for  its 
sale,  and  it  is  to  be  feared,  in  too  many  instances,  with  the 
view  of  securing  the  possession  of  it  to  a  few  favored  indi 
viduals.  Twice  have  such  orders  been  issued  by  the  proper 
departments,  but  on  both  occasions  the  sale  was  not  per 
mitted  to  proceed.  Under  the  circumstances  it  was  well 
that  it  did  not.  This  magnificent  body  of  land,  lying  here 
in  the  midst  of  so  much  beauty,  and  surrounded  by  towns 
which  bid  fair  to  become  the  seat  of  an  immense  com 
merce,  should  not  be  permitted  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
mere  speculators.  But  the  Island  should  unquestionably 
pass  from  public  to  private  ownership.  As  it  is,  it  answers 
no  useful  end  to  the  government  or  to  individuals,  and  its 
being  retained  by  the  former  retards  in  many  ways  the  pros 
perity  of  the  neighboring  towns  and  country." 

The  city  of  Davenport,  since  the  completion  of  the  Chi 
cago  and  Rock  Island  Railroad,  has  moved  forward  with 
rapid  strides.  The  present  population  of  the  city  is  about 
8000.  The  following  from  the  correspondence  of  the  /St. 
Louis  Republican  gives  a  concise  and  correct  statement  :— - 

"  We  have  two  flouring-mills,  six  saw-mills,  two  planing- 
mills,  one  plow  factory,  two  sash  and  blind  factories,  and 
two  foundries,  all  operated  by  steam-engines,  and  doing  a 
thriving  business. 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  171 

"  The  stores,  numbering  over  one  hundred,  have  passed 
through  the  transition  state,  from  general  country  groceries 
to  distinct  and  well  appointed  establishments,  representing 
separately  each  prominent  branch  of  commercial  enterprise. 
The  various  churches  and  public  edifices  have  emerged  from 
their  temporary  chrysalis  to  large,  commodious  buildings. 
Farms  of  unsurpassed  fertility,  stretch  their  broad  acres 
from  our  suburbs  many  miles  into  the  interior,  over  the 
prairies,  are  creditable  to  the  enterprise  of  our  agricul 
turists,  and  supplying  our  city  with  every  luxury,  and  a 
commerce  commensurate  with  the  importance  of  our  lo 
cality.  Our  streets  swarm  with  immigrants,  our  hotels, 
six  in  number,  are  insufficient  for  the  accommodation  of 
strangers.  Our  banking-houses,  of  which  there  are  three, 
are  sound  and  healthy.  Our  real  estate  offices,  which  are 
too  numerous  to  enumerate,  are  converting  money  into 
property,  and  property  into  money,  daily,  at  prices  which, 
although  comparatively  high,  make  both  buyer  and  seller 
rich.  All  kinds  of  business,  and  classes  of  business  men, 
thrive  and  prosper.  Two  abutments,  and  three  piers  of 
the  great  Mississippi  bridge  are  completed. 

"  Preparations  for  gas  light  on  an  extensive  scale,  form 
a  new  feature  in  the  city's  privileges.  Our  suburbs  spring 
up  with  distinctive  appellations,  and  North,  West,  and 
East  Davenport,  and  Hamburg,  would  pass  for  respectable 
villages,  apart  from  the  nucleus. 

"  Davenport  is  becoming  an  important  lumber  depot. 
Besides  the  six  saw-mills  in  operation  here,  cutting  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  millions  of  feet  per  annum,  it  is  supplied 


172  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

by  rafts  from  the  pineries,  which,  on  account  of  the  spa 
cious  eddy  at  East  Davenport,  are  induced  to  touch  here 
before  seeking  another  market. 

li  East  Davenport  contains  300  inhabitants,  and  has  one 
flour  and  one  saw-mill.  It  presents  inducements  for  the 
extension  of  the  lumber  business  beyond  any  other  point  on 
the  Mississippi  river  above  St.  Louis.  The  main  avenues 
penetrating  the  interior  of  the  State,  concentrate  at  this 
point,  and  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Railroad  depot  is 
contiguous  to  the  village  between  it  and  Davenport  proper, 
and  doubtless  a  branch  railroad  will  be  extended  to  the 
eddy  next  season.  Here,  also,  the  supplies  of  lime  and 
building-stone  are  derived,  and  the  brick  manufacture  is 
extensively  carried  on." 

Five  large  new  churches,  dedicated  last  fall,  rear  their 
turrets  towards  heaven  ;  a  new  collegiate  building,  an  ex 
tensive  building  fora  female  school,  two  market  houses,  and 
several  stores,  of  architectural  proportions,  are  among  the 
edifices  of  last  year's  growth. 

Local  Manufactures. — Five  saw-mills  have  turned  out 
7,000,000  feet  of  lumber;  two  planing-mills  and  sash  fac 
tories  have  worked  2,000,000  feet  of  lumber;  one  plow 
factory  manufactured  1500  plows;  two  foundries  and  ma 
chine  shops;  two  flouring-mills  manufactured  50,000  bar 
rels  of  flour;  four  cooper  shops  manufactured  30,000  flour 
barrels,  and  1000  pork  barrels.  Population  of  Davenport 
8000;  increase  2200  over  1853.  Scott  County,  17,000. 

From  the  returns  of  the  Assessor,  in  1854,  we  see  that 
the  total  amount  of  property  assessed  the  past  year  was 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  173 

valued  at  $4,560,459,  showing  an  increase  over  1853,  of 
$2,728,546.  By  comparing  the  returns  of  the  several  coun 
ties,  it  will  be  seen  that  Scott  is  the  third  county  in  the 
State,  in  point  of  wealth. 

We  have  devoted  more  space  to  the  description  of  Scott 
County,  the  Island,  &c.;  than  to  any  other  county  in  the 
State,  but  probably  no  more  than  they  deserve.  At  no  point 
in  the  whole  Mississippi  Valley  is  presented  a  more  beau 
tiful  location  for  a  city  than  here,  and  nowhere  else  in  the 
"West  can  be  found  two  cities  of  the  size  of  Rock  Island 
and  Davenport,  opposite  each  other,  together  concentrating 
a  population  of  nearly  15,000  inhabitants; — individually 
cities  of  great  importance  to  the  West — together,  forming 
one  of  the  most  attractive  points  on  the  Upper  Mississippi. 

The  purlieus  of  these  two  cities  have  also  been  the 
scenes  of  a  number  of  incidents,  which  tend  to  imbue 
with  a  deep  and  thrilling  interest,  the  early  history  of 
Iowa.  A  relation  of  these  would  occupy  a  greater  space 
than  it  is  in  our  power  at  present  to  devote  to  them ;  but 
we  shall  endeavor  to  compile  them,  together  with  an  ac 
curate  and  compendious  history  of  the  primitive  days  of 
the  entire  State,  for  publication  at  an  early  period. 

Since  our  chapter  on  Geology  was  completed,  and  in 
print,  an  extensive  bed  of  Cannel  coal  has  been  penetrated, 
in  Scott  County,  which  promises  to  be  of  great  value  to 
its  possessors.  The  area  underlaid  by  this  bank,  embraces 
several  acres.  Specimens  of  this  coal  which  have  been 
furnished  us,  burn  well,  are  very  light  and  brittle,  and  sus 
ceptible  of  a  polish,  though  inferior  to  the  Cannel  coal  of 
15* 


174  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

Pennsylvania.  It  is  thought  by  colliers  that  the  better 
qualities  are  farther  in  the  banks.  In  our  next  edition  we 
shall  be  able  to  give  a  chemical  analysis  of  the  properties 
of  this  coal. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

DESCRIPTION    OF   COUNTIES  —  CONCLUDED. 
TAMA  COUNTY. 

THE  county-seat  of  Tama  "was  but  one  year  old  last  No 
vember.  In  February,  1855,  it  contained  150 — the  county 
upwards  of  300.  In  1850,  the  county  contained  but  8 
inhabitants — 5  males  and  3  females — something  of  an  in 
crease  ! 

Two  churches — a  Methodist  and  a  Baptist — are  in  con 
templation,  and  will  probably  be  built  this  season. 

No  newspaper — good  opening  for  one — we  read. 

Public  Schools  in  most  flourishing  condition. 

Hydraulic  privileges  excellent  in  the  county,  on  the  Iowa 
River — also,  an  abundance  of  water-power  on  Deer,  Wolfe, 
Honey  and  Otter  Creeks.  We  have  4  saw-mills — 2  water, 
2  steam.  One  fiouring-mill,  with  twd  runs  of  stones. 

Excellent  opening  for  Lumber,  Flour,  or  Woollen  Manu 
factories. 

Tama  County  is  of  rich,  alluvial  soil.  The  prairie  and 
timber  lands  are  exceedingly  well  proportioned  to  each 
other.  Both  upland  and  river-bottom  timber  in  abundance 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  175 

for  all  the  wants  of  the  county,  for  fencing,  building,  and 
fuel  purposes.  It  is  confidently  asserted  that  there  is  an 
abundance  of  coal  in  the  county,  but  no  banks  have  as  yet 
been  opened. 

1  The  face  of  the  county  is  greatly  undulating,  with  a 
good  proportion  of  river  bottom,  two  to  four  miles  in 
width — well  watered.  The  soil  yields  wheat,  hemp,  oats, 
corn,  rye,  barley,  beans,  peas,  potatoes,  and  tobacco,  each 
in  great  abundance,  and  with  but  little  care  as  to  culture. 
Native  fruits  grow  in  great  variety,  such  as  the  grape, 
crab-apple,  plum,  gooseberry,  strawberry,  and  raspberry, 
each  growing  in  abundance.* 

The  Mineral  resources,  although  but  partially  developed, 
are  known  to  be  valuable  and  extensive.  An  abundance 
of  the  best  lime-stone  and  stone-coal  —  the  latter  not  so 
plenty  as  the  former. 

Every  acre  of  Tama  County  is  arable  land,  and  it.  is  there 
fore  susceptible  of  as  dense  a  population  as  any  county  in 
the  State.  To  the  Farmer,  Stock-raiser,  Mechanic,  and 
Manufacturer,  Tama  holds  out  extra  inducements.  The 
locality  is  one  of  the  most  healthy,  and  the  population  one 
of  the  most  thriving  and  energetic  in  the  State. 

VAN  BUREN  COUNTY. 

The  earliest  settlements  in  this  county  were  begun  in 
1834-5.  Keosauqua,  the  county-seat,  was  laid  out  and 
settled  in  1837.  The  proprietors  were  Messrs.  James 

*  All  that  is  said  of  the  productions  of  the  soil  of  Tama,  will 
apply  to  most  counties  of  the  State. — ED, 


176  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

Hall,  John  Fairman,  John  Cams,  M.  Sigler,  and  E.  Man 
ning. 

The  population  of  Keosauqua  is  about  1000;  of  the 
county,  by  last  census,  13,843. 

There  are  two  thriving  churches,  Congregationalist  and 
Methodist,  and  several  other  religious  societies. 

There  is  one  newspaper,  the  "  Democratic  Union,"  pub 
lished  in  Keosauqua.  No  other  in  the  county. 

One  public  school,  having  from  100  to  120  scholars 
in  attendance.  There  are  also  one  private  school  for 
young  ladies,  and  two  high  schools,  all  well  patronized  and 
supported ;  in  addition  to  which,  the  citizens  of  Keosauqua 
contemplate  the  building  of  a  seminary  during  the  present 
year. 

There  are  three  grist-mills  in  the  town  and  vicinity,  (one 
water-power  and  two  steam,)  and  also  two  saw-mills.  The 
water-power  that  is  now  about  to  be  furnished,  by  the  com 
pletion  of  the  lock  and  dam  at  this  place,  will  not  be  sur 
passed  in  the  State. 

A  woollen  manufactory,  paper  mill,  and  manufactories 
of  shingles,  plows,  wagons,  and  agricultural  implements, 
and  also  a  good  merchant  flouring- mill,  are  very  much 
needed.  The  inducements  are  readily  seen  and  understood 
by  practical  men. 

The  character  of  the  country  may  be  described  as  being 
well  divided  between  prairie  and  timber.  There  is  a  large 
supply  of  good  timber  along  the  Des  Moines  River,  on  both 
sides.  The  soil  is  rich,  and  produces  all  the  crops  con 
genial  to  the  climate,  in  the  greatest  abundance. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  177 

The  Des  Moines  improvement,  when  finished,  will  afford 
an  uninterrupted  navigation  to  St.  Louis  and  New  Orleans  ; 
and  at  present,  even  without  the  improvement,  we  have 
steamboat  navigation  from  two  to  four  months,  during  the 
spring  and  summer. 

There  are  several  towns  on  the  river  about  one  mile 
below,  viz. :  lowaville,  where  are  two  mills  and  one  distil 
lery  j  Pittsburg,  where  there  is  now  in  progress  a  steam- 
mill  ;  Bentonsport  and  Vernon,  where  there  are  now  in  suc 
cessful  operation  two  good  flouring-mills,  two  saw-mills, 
two  carding-machines,  one  woollen-factory,  one  lath-mill, 
and  one  paper-mill. 

Bonaparte  also  contains  a  good  flouring-mill,  two  saw 
mills,  and  an  extensive  brick  woollen -factory. 

Farmington,  below  Bonaparte,  is  also  a  considerable 
town,  and  contains  nearly  1000  inhabitants,  two  or  three 
grist  and  saw-mills,  one  foundry,  and  one  engine  establish 
ment.  There  are  also  several  smaller  towns  in  the  county, 
off  from  the  river,  some  of  which  are  prominent,  and 
rapidly  improving. 

WAPELLO  COUNTY 

Was  opened  to  settlement  on  the  1st  of  May,  1843,  and 
organized  in  April,  1844.  It  is  claimed  by  residents  to  be 
one  of  the  best  tracts  of  land  in  the  State.  The  Des 
Moines  River  passes  diagonally  through  the  county.  The 
water-power,  as  furnished  by  that  river  and  Cedar  Creek, 
is  abundant,  the  banks  of  the  streams  also  being  rich  in 
limestone  of  the  best  quality,  and  excellent  sand,  which, 


178  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES. 

together  with  the  extensive  tracts  of  timber,  render  it  one 
of  the  most  desirable  counties  in  the  interior  of  the  State. 
The  population  of  Wapello  was  8,466,  since  which  time  the 
county  has  settled  more  rapidly  than  at  any  previous  period. 
The  number  of  votes  polled  at  the  general  election  in  1854 
was  1502. 

Ottumwa,  the  county-seat,  is  situated  at  what  are  called 
the  Appanoose  Rapids,  on  the  Des  Moines  River,  distant 
twenty-five  miles  from  Fairfield,  and  seven  from  Agency 
City,  (the  old  Sac  and  Fox  Agency). 

Respecting  the  Rapids  at  this  place,  Mr.  Newhall  writes : 
t(  In  August,  1845,  a  survey  of  the  Appanoose  Rapids  at 
this  place  was  made  by  David  Armstrong,  Esq.,  when  it 
was  ascertained  that  there  passed  at  the  Rapids,  every 
minute,  42,000  cubic  feet  of  water ;  a  sufficient  quantity  to 
fill  a  lock  42  feet  wide,  and  150  feet  long  j  being  enough  to 
run  28  pair  of  burrs,  4  feet  in  diameter,  under  a  head  of  6 
feet  water.  There  is  a  fall  of  4  feet  at  these  Rapids,  in  one 
mile;  and  a  dam,  5  feet  high,  would  give  6  feet  10  inches 
rise  and  fall." 

Several  mills  and  other  manufactories  have  already  been 
erected  at  Ottumwa,  which  place  will  become  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  cities  in  the  interior  of  the  State,  when 
her  water-power  and  other  capabilities  are  fairly  deve 
loped. 

Agency  City  is  situated  some  seven  miles  from  the  centre 
of  the  county,  and  in  beauty  of  locality,  and  natural 
scenery,  will  compare  favorably  with  any  point  in  the 
interior.  The  late  Indian  Agency  was  here  located  by 


DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES.  179 

Gen.  Street,  who  considered  it  a  favorable  situation  in  all 
respects. 

Eddyville  is  situated  on  the  Des  Moines  River,  in  the 
extreme  north-west  corner  of  the  county,  upon  the  site  of 
an  old  Indian  trading-post.  The  society  in  Eddysville  is 
as  good  as  in  any  place  of  its  size  in  the  State.  Churches 
and  schools  are  well  supported,  and  the  edifices  and  build 
ings  are  of  a  size  and  character  that  would  do  honor  to  places 
of  greater  pretensions. 

WAYNE  COUNTY 

Was  organized  in  1851,  —  the  first  settlements  were 
made  in  1848.  Corydon,  the  county-seat,  was  located  in 
1852.  This  section  is  very  sparsely  settled,  there  being 
but  about  500  voters  in  the  county,  and  less  than  100  citi 
zens  in  Corydon. 

Several  churches  are  scattered  over  the  county :  Presby 
terian,  Methodist,  Baptist,  and  Campbellite  denominations — 
two  of  them  Methodist  —  making  a  total  of  five. 

The  county  is  well  supplied  with  schools.  No  news 
papers. 

With  an  abundance  of  excellent  water-power,  Wayne 
County  invites  machinists,  capitalists,  and  manufacturers. 
No  machinery  in  the  county.  Timber  is  not  so  plenty  as 
in  some  other  counties,  but  the  quality  of  the  land  is  second 
to  none.  Considerable  land  unentered. 

WINNESHEIK  COUNTY 

Is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Minnesota,  on  the  east  by 
Alamakee  County,  on  the  south  by  Fayette,  and  on  the 


180  DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES, 

west  by  Chickasaw  and  Howard  Counties.  It  was  occu 
pied  by  Winnebago  Indians  until  the  year  1848,  when  they 
were  removed  by  Government.  Previous  to  that  time 
there  were  no  settlers  in  the  county.  Fort  Atkinson  was 
built  about  the  year  1843,  for  the  protection  of  the  settle 
ments  against  the  incursions  of  the  Indians. 

The  Old  Mission,  as  it  is  familiarly  called,  was  formerly 
a  missionary-station,  under  the  patronage  of  Government. 
Both  the  Fort  and  Mission  have  been  abandoned,  and, 
although  in  the  charge  of  keepers,  are  rapidly  going  to 
decay.  The  land  about  both,  comprising  5£  square  miles, 
is  still  reserved  from  sale,  and  is  exceedingly  fertile. 

Among  the  first  settlers  may  be  mentioned  Francis 
Rogers,  David  Heed,  George  Ream,  William  Day,  and  "Wm. 
Painter.  The  first  settlement  was  made  soon  after  the 
removal  of  the  Indians  in  1848.  The  population  of  the 
county  is  estimated  at  about  5000. 

The  climate  of  Winnesheik  County  resembles  that  of  New 
York  City,  although  the  winters  are  much  shorter,  and  the 
autumns  very  long,  mild,  and  beautiful.  The  spring  gene 
rally  opens  about  the  15th  of  March.  The  summer  is  never 
excessively  warm,  except  where  the  wind  is  shut  out  by  the 
bluffs  or  timber. 

In  soil,  this  county  is  not  excelled.  It  is  a  rich  black 
loam,  and  has  a  depth  of  from  one  to  six  feet.  It  has  a 
very  slight  mixture  of  sand.  Of  course,  the  deepest  soil  is 
to  be  found  upon  the  bottoms.  The  county  is  well  tim 
bered  ;  about  one-fourth  of  it  is  heavily  timbered,  one-third 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  181 

is  prairie,  and  the  balance  is  burr-oak  openings,  affording 
plenty  of  firewood  and  rails. 

The  county  is  well  watered  by  the  Upper  Iowa,  Turkey, 
and  Canoe  Rivers,  and  numerous  smaller  streams.  The 
Upper  Iowa  is  a  beautiful  stream,  with  rock  and  gravel 
bed,  good  banks,  swift  current,  and  pure  water.  The 
Turkey  River,  which  runs  through  the  south-west  part  of 
the  county,  is  also  a  beautiful  stream.  The  Canoe,  which 
is  a  branch  of  the  Iowa  River,  is  a  fine  stream,  somewhat 
smaller  than  the  other  two,  but  all  of  them  afford  abundance 
of  mill-power. 

Trout  Creek  is  worthy  of  note.  This  stream,  which  is  in 
size  about  one-third  as  large  as  the  Upper  Iowa,  breaks 
forth  in  one  large  spring  from  the  foot  of  a  perpendicular 
bluff,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  its  mouth.  It 
abounds  in  speckled  trout,  and  is  a  favorite  resort  for 
sportsmen.  It  rises  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south  from 
Decorab,  and  empties  into  the  Upper  Iowa  River  two  miles 
south-east  from  that  town,  at  the  southernmost  bend  of  the 
river. 

In  general,  the  surface  of  the  country  is  gently  rolling ; 
near  the  large  streams  it  is  bluffy,  but  the  high  lands  are 
easily  accessible  by  means  of  the  many  ravines  running  in 
all  directions.  The.  prairies  are  small,  well  watered,  and 
agreeably  diversified  with  groves  and  thickets.  Washing 
ton,  Franklin,  and  Looking-Glass  Prairies  are  noted  for 
their  excellent  adaptation  to  farming  purposes. 

This  county  cannot  be  excelled  for  stock  raising.  Sheep 
16 


182  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES. 

do  remarkably  well ;  already  there  are  many  flocks  of  fine 
blooded  ones  in  the  county. 

The  prevailing  rock  is  lime-stone,  which,  near  the  sur 
face,  is  soft  and  shelly,  but  below  it  is  hard  and  solid.  It 
is  always  found  in  layers  of  a  good  thickness  for  building 
purposes. 

Coal  is  said  to  have  been  found  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county. 

There  are  a  number  of  religious  societies  formed  in  the 
county,  among  which  are  Congregationalists,  Presbyterians, 
Methodists,  Quakers,  and  Lutherans. 

There  are  a  number  of  saw-mills,  and,  although  on  a 
small  scale,  they  do  a  good  business.  The  Decorah  saw 
mill  has  one  saw  which  cuts  3000  feet  of  lumber  in  twenty- 
four  hours. 

There  are  also  a  number  of  grist-mills  in  the  county, 
doing  a  thriving  business.  Decorah  grist-mill  has  two  run 
of  stones,  which  grind  680  bushels  of  wheat  in  twenty-four 
hours. 

Dunning's  grist-mill,  near  Decorah,  is  situated  under  a 
large  spring,  with  fifty  feet  fall  of  water. 

An  extensive  plow  factory  has  recently  been  erected  in 
Decorah. 

The  manufactories  most  needed  at  present  are :  woollen 
factories,  chair  factories,  sash  and  door  factories,  grist-mills, 
lath-mills,  iron  foundries,  and  factories  for  the  manufacture 
of  agricultural  implements.  The  inducements  for  their 
erection  are  the  abundance  of  water-power  and  materials, 
and  the  great  demand  for  their  products. 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  183 

Farmers  are  much  needed  —  the  inducements  for  them 
being  plenty  of  vacant  land  and  excellent  markets. 

Mechanics  are  very  much  needed,  especially  carpenters, 
masons,  millwrights,  coopers,  saddlers,  watchmakers,  tinners, 
cabinet-makers,  and  painters.  The  inducements  for  them 
are  plenty  of  work  and  good  pay. 

Decorah,  the  county-seat  of  Winneshiek  County,  is  a 
thriving  village,  2J  miles  east  from  the  geographical  centre 
of  the  county.  It  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the  Upper  Iowa 
River,  twenty-nine  miles  from  the  Mississippi,  and  fourteen 
miles  from  the  southern  boundary  of  Minnesota.  The  great 
thoroughfare  between  Iowa  and  Minnesota,  and  the  Du- 
buque  and  St.  Paul  mail-route,  pass  through  this  place. 
Stages  run  regularly  to  St.  Paul,  Brownsville,  Lansing, 
Dubuque,  and  the  intermediate  points. 

Decorah  was  first  settled  in  the  spring  of  1849,  by  Wm. 
Day,  who  was  followed  in  June  by  Wm.  Painter.  These 
men  for  some  time  were  obliged  to  grind  their  flour  in  a 
coffee-mill,  and  bolt  it  through  a  sieve.  They  lived  compa 
ratively  alone  until  the  year  1851,  when  the  first  saw-mill 
and  store  were  commenced.  The  same  year  a  survey  was 
made  of  a  few  lots,  and  the  place  was  called  Decorah,  after 
a  celebrated  Winnebago  chief,  whose  grave  is  still  to  be 
seen  at  the  foot  of  the  beautiful  eminence  upon  which  the 
public  buildings  of  the  county  are  about  to  be  erected.  The 
town  was  re-surveyed,  enlarged,  and  recorded  in  1853, 
since  which  it  has  rapidly  improved,  and  now  contains  about 
350  inhabitants.  It  commands  an  extensive  trade  with 


184  DESCRIPTION    OF    COUNTIES, 

Winnesheik,  Howard,  and  Mitchell  Counties,  and  also  with 
a  large  portion  of  Minnesota.  The  business  of  the  place 
for  the  past  year  is  estimated  at  $80,000. 

A  substantial  bridge  across  the  Upper  Iowa  River,  at 
this  place,  affords  an  excellent  crossing  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year. 

Decorah  is  on  the  direct  air-line,  and  on  the  contem 
plated  and  most  feasible  route  for  the  St.  Paul  andDubuque 
Railroad. 

An  excellent  school  is  constantly  maintained.  Regular 
services  are  held  every  Sabbath  by  the  Methodist  and 
Congregationalist  denominations. 

The  village  is  well  supplied  with  water  by  numerous 
beautiful  springs  within  its  limits.  A  newspaper  is  needed, 
and  would  be  well  patronized.  Excellent  inducements  for 
a  woollen  factory  are  held  out  at  this  place. 

Frankville,  situated  on  the  east  line  of  the  county,  twelve 
miles  south-east  from  Decorah,  and  directly  on  the  Dubuqne 
and  St.  Paul  stage-road,  is  a  pleasant  and  thriving  village. 
It  commands  a  good  trade  with  the  surrounding  country, 
and  is  destined  to  become  a  place  of  considerable  note.  It 
was  settled  in  1851  by  Francis  Teabout,  a  liberal-minded 
man,  under  whose  untiring  energies  it  is  rapidly  improving. 
The  place  is  regularly  and  tastefully  built,  and  contains  one 
hotel,  two  stores,  a  blacksmith  shop,  physician's  office,  a 
number  of  dwellings,  and  a  church  erected  by  the  proprietor, 
and  donated,  with  extensive  grounds,  to  the  Presbyterian 
Society. 


DESCRIPTION    OP    COUNTIES.  185 

Moneek  is  situated  three  miles  south  from  Frankville, 
and  fifteen  miles  south-east  from  Decorah.  It  is  located  on 
the  north  branch  of  Yellow  River,  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy 
body  of  timber.  It  contains  a  saw-mill,  hotel,  several 
stores,  &c.  It  was  laid  out  in  1852,  and  was  at  that  time 
the  largest  place  in  the  county.  The  inhabitants  are  prin 
cipally  Canadians. 

Calmar,  eight  miles  south-west  from  Decorah,  is  a  Nor 
wegian  village  of  four  or  five  houses  and  one  store.  It 
was  laid  out  in  1854,  and  already  makes  a  business  ap 
pearance.  It  is  situated  on  the  old  military  road  to  Fort 
Atkinson. 

Freeport,  two  miles  east  from  Decorah,  on  the  Upper 
Iowa  River,  contains  a  grist-mill,  saw-mill,  grocery,  and 
several  dwellings  of  rather  primitive  architecture.  It  was 
settled  in  1850  by  Daniel  K.  Kendall,  and  was  recorded  in 
1854.  It  contains  a  population  of  about  fifty,  principally 
Pennsylvania  Dutch.  Owing  to  several  large  sloughs,  it 
has  rather  an  unhealthy  situation. 

Clifton  and  Bluffton,  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  county, 
are  just  commenced.  They  have  excellent  water-power,  and 
good  grist  and  saw-mills. 


186        WESTERN    IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

WESTERN     IOWA     AND     NEBRASKA. 

[WE  are  indebted  to  the  editor  of  the  "Council  Bluffs 
Eagle"  for  most  of  the  matter  under  this  head.  The  read 
er  will  therefore  understand  which  portions  of  the  articles 
refer  to  Pottawattamie  County,  in  particular.] 

Geography. — That  portion  of  "Western  Iowa  lying  west 
of  the  Des  Moines  River,  is  the  most  rolling,  uneven  and 
picturesque,  of  the  choice  lands,  in  the  United  States.  Al 
though  this  region  is  almost  entirely  composed  of  hills, 
swells,  ridges,  valleys,  and  bottom  lands,  thrown  together 
in  the  most  grand  -and  poetic  manner,  there  is  scarcely  an 
acre  of  waste  land  in  the  whole  region;  even  the  highest 
points  and  peaks  abound  with  luxurious  grass  and  vegeta 
tion,  or  timber  and  copsewood,  whilst  the  slopes,  valleys, 
and  bottom  lands,  together  with  the  upland  prairies,  are 
the  most  rich  and  fertile  ever  inhabited. 
•  The  soil  is  a  rich,  black,  light,  sandy  loam,  extremely 
easy  of  cultivation,  and  of  a  depth  of  from  one  to  ten  feet. 
Although  the  soil  is  naturally  extremely  light  and  loose,  it 
resists  to  a  wonderful  degree  the  evil  effects  of  drought  upon 
vegetation.  The  last  season,  when  the  countries  east  and 
south  were  parched,  and  crops  destroyed  for  want  of  rain. 


WESTERN     IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA.         187 

ours  were  remarkably  heavy,  and  seemed  uninjured,  al 
though  we  had  little  or  no  more  rain  than  our  neighbours. 

Timber. — There  are  heavy  bodies  of  hard  wood  timber 
on  the  margin  of,  and  adjacent  to,  the  Des  Moines  River, 
and  a  reasonable  quantity  interspersed  through  the  counties 
northwest ;  yet  upon  the  route  directly  west  to  this  place, 
timber  is  extremely  scarce  for  an  hundred  miles,  being 
found  only  in  detached  groves  upon  streams :  but  as  one  ap 
proaches  the  slope  of  the  Missouri  River,  the  groves  and 
clusters  of  timber  become  more  frequent,  and  in  this  imme 
diate  vicinity  there  is  sufficient  for  all  reasonable  demands. 
In  several  of  the  counties  north,  timber  is  still  more  abun 
dant,  and  in  Shelby  County  there  is  one  grove  alone  that 
contains  nearly  thirty  square  miles  of  good  timber.  Through 
this  region  generally,  there  are  an  abundance  of  young 
groves  of  timber,  which,  if  the  fires  do  not  destroy  it,  will 
increase  quite  as  fast  as  the  older  and  more  mature  portions 
are  used  up.  The  most  valuable  varieties  are  oak,  (three 
or  four  varieties),  black  walnut,  hickory,  linn,  elm,  cotton- 
wood,  hackberry,  black  locust,  and  coffee  bean. 

Upon  the  bottom  lands,  the  cottonwood,  black  walnut, 
and  elm  are  found,  and  in  the  higher  lands,  the  other 
varieties. 

Minerals. — There  is  no  doubt  but  that  an  abundance  of 
coal  exists  in  this  region;  few  beds  have,  however,  yet 
been  opened,  but  those  prove  to  be  of  an  excellent  quality. 
There  are  fine  quarries  of  lime-rock,  sand  and  slate-stone. 

Climate. — Our  climate  is  similar  to  that  of  Northern 
Ohio,  but  we  have  less  snow  and  probably  a  little  more 


188       WESTERN    IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA. 

wind.  It  produces  about  the  same  varieties  of  crops,  fruits, 
and  vegetables.  The  roads  are  extremely  hard  and  smooth 
during  all  the  year,  except  the  season  of  Spring.  The 
evening  twilights  are  long,  soft  and  pleasant,  in  the  Sum 
mer  season,  usually  continuing  for  nearly  two  hours  after 
sunset.  The  evenings,  even  after  the  hottest  days,  are 
usually  cool  and  pleasant.  A  refreshing  breeze  is  almost 
constantly  blowing  from  off  the  prairies. 

Wild  Fruits  and  Vegetation. — The  wild  prairies  are  co 
vered  with  a  rich,  luxurious  growth  of  grass,  varying  in 
height  from  twenty  inches  to  five  feet,  which  makes  the 
finest  of  grazing,  or  hay,  and  which  only  requires  cutting  and 
stacking,  not  being  as  liable  to  injury  as  the  tame  grasses. 
For  late  feed,  the  pea-vines  and  rushes  in  the  low  lands, 
make  feed  that  frequently  will  keep  stock  in  good  order  all 
winter.  There  are  various  bulbous  roots  that  grow  wild, 
such  as  in  years  past  the  Indians  have  gathered  for  food. 
Among  the  best  is  the  wild  potatoe,  the  bean,  and  arti 
choke.  Hogs  eat  these  voraciously.  Among  the  best  of  our 
wild  fruits  may  be  reckoned  plums,  gooseberries,  straw 
berries,  raspberries.  There  are  crab  apples,  and  haws, 
which  grow  in  abundance,  and  the  finest  we  ever  saw. 
Grapes  are  of  spontaneous  growth,  and  are  also  fine.  The 
plums  are  almost  as  fine  as  the  cultivated  varieties — large, 
delicious  and  abundant.  Strawberries  grow  around  the 
edges  of  timber  and  brushwood,  and  in  the  bottoms,  along 
the  streams. 

Productions.  —  Corn    produces   heavily   and    naturally, 
yielding  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre,  with 


WESTERN    IOWA    AND     NEBRASKA.        189 

little  trouble.  Winter  wheat  is  not  a  certain  crop,  on  ac 
count  of  there  being  so  little  snow  throughout  the  winter. 
Spring  wheat  produces  heavily,  and  of  an  excellent  quality. 
Oats  yield  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  bushels  per  acre.  Rye, 
barley,  buckwheat,  potatoes,  turnips,  melons,  and  other 
vegetables  and  grains  do  well.  There  are  few  or  no  or 
chards  in  this  region,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  most  of  the 
cultivated  varieties  of  fruit  will  succeed  and  do  well  here. 

Game,  &c. — Elk  and  deer  are  abundant  in  the  counties 
north,  and  even  near  here  they  may  be  seen  every  day ;  there 
are  also  abundance  of  fowls ;  swan,  geese,  pelicans,  tur 
keys,  ducks,  prairie  chickens,  and  quails,  abound  in  their 
peculiar  localities,  and  fish,  of  the  choicest  kinds,  fill  our 
lakes  and  streams.  Wild  bees  are  common. 

Congress,  or  Unentered  Land. — The  most  choice  lands 
in  this  region  are  entered,  but  there  are  within  a  few  miles 
of  the  city  considerable  un-entered  lands,  which,  though 
without  timber,  have  a  good,  rich  soil.  In  the  country  east 
and  north,  the  chances  are  better,  and  good  claims  may  often 
be  had  for  a  small  price. 

Timber  lands  may  also  be  purchased  to  suit  those  who 
enter  prairie  lands. 

Mills. — We  have  within  this  county  about  twelve  saw 
and  grist-mills,  but  not  half  enough  to  supply  the  demand 
for  lumber  and  flour.  The  county  above  has  some  four 
in  operation,  and  the  next  below,  six,  and  Cass  County,  one. 

In  Pottawattamie  County  we  are  in  extreme  need  of  a 
good  flouring-mill — such  as  we  have  in  the  country  will 
only  make  from  twenty  to  thirty  pounds  of  flour  to  the 


190        WESTERN    IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA. 

bushel.  How  strange  !  wheat  $1  25  per  bushel,  and  flour 
$5  50  to  $6  00  per  hundred  pounds.  Who  couldn't  make 
money  out  of  a  good  mill  ? 

Mechanics. — We  are  in  great  want  of  many  and  various 
mechanics,  but  more  especially  at  this  time  we  have  no 
wagon-makers  in  the  place,  and  it  seems  almost  impossible 
to  get  a  wagon  or  carriage  mended.  If,  however,  one  is 
so  unlucky  as  to  succeed,  he  will  be  charged  an  enormous 
price,  and  that  by  bungling  pretenders.  Let  the  me 
chanics  of  the  east,  who  are  out  of  employment,  (and  will 
soon  be  out  of  funds),  come  here,  where  they  may  be  ser 
viceable  to  the  community,  and  get  rich.  Carpenters, 
millwrights,  brickmakers,  masons,  engineers,  architects,  and 
day  labourers,  are  in  special  demand. 

There  are  large  and  small  streams  at  intervals  all  over 
the  county,  the  principal  of  which  are  the  Nishnabotna, 
Keg  Creek,  Boyer  River,  and  Musquito  and  Gopher 
Creeks.  There  are  a  number  of  lakes  in  the  bottoms,  in 
which,  as  well  as  the  streams,  are  stores  of  excellent  fish. 
Upon  these  streams  are  numerous  mill  sites,  only  a  small 
proportion  of  which  are  occupied.  Although  there  are 
about  one  dozen  mills  already  in  operation,  there  is  yet  a 
great  demand  for  more,  and  fortunes  might  be  made  by  in 
vesting  money  in  their  erection. 

For  grazing,  stock-growing,  or  dairy  business,  there  is  no 
region  of  country  better  adapted.  Stock  requires  little  or 
sometimes  no  feed,  and  upon  the  prairie  grass  will  fatten  in 
an  incredibly  short  space  of  time.  The  poor  mechanic  and 
labourer  soon  become  landholders,  and  the  capitalist  is  not 


WESTERN     IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA.        191 

satisfied  with  less  than  forty  per  cent,  well  secured,  which 
he  readily  obtains. 

How  to  get  here. — Boats  run  regularly  from  St.  Louis  to 
this  place,  all  through  the  season  of  navigation.  Freight 
up  usually  averages  about  seventy-five  cents  per  hundred, 
and  passengers  (cabin)  $15,  deck,  $5.  The  railroad  from 
the  east  is  completed  to  300  miles  from  this  place.  Teams 
can  be  purchased  in  and  about  Davenport  at  fair  prices. 

Prices  of  grain  and  produce. — Flour  selling  at  $5  00  per 
hundred.  Corn  30  cents,  wheat  $1  25,  oats  30  cents, 
potatoes  usually  25  cents,  (now  75),  pork  $4  00  per  hun 
dred.  Butter  and  eggs  25,  (in  the  summer  10  cents,) 
groceries  and  dry  goods  at  the  usual  western  prices. 
Laborers  get  from  $1  00  to  $2  50  per  day,  (including 
mechanics). 

Stock  of  all  kinds  bears  a  good  price,  from  the  fact  of  this 
place  being  the  great  outfitting  emporium  for  immigrants 
westward. 

Towns. — The  largest  and  most  important  town  west  of 
the  Des  Moines  Valley,  is  Council  Bluffs  City,  which  is 
located  some  3  miles  from  the  Missouri,  (directly  opposite 
Omaha  City,  in  Nebraska),  is  the  county-seat  of  Pottawat- 
tamie  County,  and  now  contains  about  2500  inhabitants.  It 
is  a  sparsely  built  incorporated  city,  contains  2  churches, 
Methodist  and  Congregational ;  3  schools,  10  stores,  6  doc- 1 
tors,  12  lawyers  and  mechanics,  and  artists  to  match.  Lots 
in  the  city  rate  from  $100  to  $1000,  each,  and  improved 
farms  in  the  neighborhood  from  $5  to  $10  per  acre,  in 
cluding  timber.  An  ever  flowing  stream,  called  Indian 


192       WESTERN    IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA. 

Creek,  runs  through  the  town,  and  upon  the  high  points 
of  the  adjacent  bluffs  the  country  for  miles  around  may 
be  seen,  including  a  broad  scope  of  the  beautiful  and  varied 
lands  of  Nebraska.  A  part  of  the  city  is  laid  out  with 
little  regularity,  it  having  been  settled  before  the  survey  of 
the  country;  consequently,  the  lots  are  of  various  shape, 
and  the  streets  of  such  angles  as  will  suit  the  position  of  the 
ground.  Many  excellent  buildings  already  have  been,  and 
are  now  being  reared,  and  good  improvements  are  rapidly 
progressing.  The  Land  Office  for  the  "Missouri  River 
District,"  embracing  nearly  thirty  counties,  is  located  here. 
Four  distinct  railroads  have  been  surveyed  to  this  place 
from  the  Mississippi  River,  from  different  points,  some  of 
which  are  now  actually  under  course  of  construction  :  and 
it  is  though  that  here  will  be  the  great  Missouri  crossing 
for  the  Pacific  Railroad. 

In  1846,  the  Mormon  Pioneer  Train,  numbering  many 
thousands,  first  opened  a  road  across  the  State  from  Nau- 
voo,  in  Illinois,  to  Council  Bluffs,  in  this  county.  As  the 
season  was  too  far  advanced  to  admit  of  a  further  prosecu 
tion  of  their  journey  that  fall,  they  halted  here.  Soon 
after,  the  largest  number  crossed  the  river  and  built  a  large 
village  about  ten  miles  above,  and  called  it  Winter  Quar 
ters,  (now  called  Florence).  Early  in  the  spring,  a  pioneer 
company  of  100  men  started  westward,  whilst  those  re 
maining,  opened  farms,  and  built  houses  on  both  sides  of 
the  river.  The  next  spring,  1848,  about  two-thirds  of  the 
whole  company  started  westward  for  the  Salt  Lake  Valley, 
and  those  remaining  removed  to  the  Iowa  side  of  the  Mis- 


WESTERN    IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA.        193 

souri,  and  commenced  a  small  town,  called  Miller's  Hollow, 
on  the  present  site  of  Council  Bluffs.  Messrs.  Stutsman, 
Voorhis,  and  Henry  Williams,  each  opened  a  little  store 
here  at  that  time,  and  were  all  that  there  were  in  the 
country,  in  1849.  The  county  was  organized  in  1851. 

Pottawattamie  County  is  situated  on  the  Missouri  River, 
and  is  about  42  miles  in  length  on  its  north  line,  36  on  its 
south,  and  24  miles  wide  north  and  south.  It  is  bounded 
by  Harrison  and  Shelby  Counties  on  the  north,  Cass  on 
the  east,  Mills  and  a  portion  of  Montgomery  on  the  south, 
and  the  Missouri  on  the  west.  It  contains  about  936 
square  miles,  has  a  population  of  about  5000,  being  a 
trifle  less  than  five  and  a  half  to  the  square  mile. 

Future  Prospects. — Council  Bluffs  is  situated  almost  in 
the  geographical  centre  of  the  United  States,  upon  the 
longest  stream  on  the  globe,  and  directly  in  route  west 
from  the  great  metropolis  of  the  east  to  the  South  Pass, 
and  at  the  entrance  to  the  Great  and  only  natural  high 
way  to  the  Pacific,  the  valley  of  the  Platte.  The  fact  that 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  pioneer  immigrants  have  taken 
this  as  the  only  practicable  route  to  California,  where  one 
has  taken  any  other,  is  evidence  sufficient  of  its  import 
ance.  There  are  now  four  railroads  from  the  East  pointing 
directly  to  this  place,  some  of  which  are  fast  progressing 
to  completion,  and  the  chain  is  already  perfect  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  capital  (entering  the  State  at  Davenport), 
and  still  they  hasten  towards  us.  We  shall  without  doubt, 
within  three  years,  hear  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  iron  horse, 
making  our  hills  and  valleys  re-echo  with  its  rattle. 
17 


194       WESTERN    IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA. 

Glenwood,  the  county-seat  of  Mills  County,  is  24  miles 
south  of  Council  Bluffs,  has  a  population  of  about  800, 
is  surrounded  by  an  excellent  agricultural  district,  and  in 
habited  by  a  thrifty,  energetic  people. 

Sidney,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Fremont,  is  24  miles 
farther  south,  is  beautifully  located,  has  a  population  of 
some  500,  and  has  a  brisk  trade  with  the  country — rapidly 
increasing. 

St.  Mary's,  opposite  Bellevue,  2  miles  below  Council 
Bluffs,  is  a  brisk  young  place,  and  promises  to  be  a  town 
of  importance. 

Iranistan,  in  Cass  County,  is  40  miles  east  of  Council 
Bluffs,  on  the  Ft.  Des  Moines  stage  road.  It  is  situated 
upon  one  of  the  Nishnabotnas,  has  one  good  water-mill, 
and  several  creditable  buildings.  There  is  excellent  timber 
in  the  region,  good  water,  stone  mill-sites,  and  a  fine 
farming  district  of  land. 

Cabinet  manufactories  are  much  needed  in  Western 
Iowa,  as  very  many  there  fit  out  for  the  borders  and  Ne 
braska,  and  manufactories  are  scarce,  and  furniture  extra 
vagantly  high. 

NEBRASKA. 

What  is  said  in  the  foregoing  pages  of  Western  Iowa  is 
true,  in  a  great  measure,  respecting  Eastern  Nebraska,  parti 
cularly  as  to  the  soil,  climate,  fruit  and  vegetation.  The 
western  portion  of  Iowa,  and  the  eastern  and  southern  por 
tions  of  Nebraska,  are  not  very  unlike  in  these  particulars. 
The  interior  or  western  parts  are  more  mountainous  and 


WESTERN    IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA.        195 

barren,  almost  entirely  destitute  of  timber,  and  really  of 
little  or  no  value  except  for  grazing.  A  number  of  im 
portant  towns  are  springing  up  on  the  Missouri  River,  the 
most  noted  of  which,  Omaha  City  (the  capitol),  Bellevue, 
Plattsmouth,  Mount  Vernon,  Nebraska  City,  Florence, 
Fort  Calhoun,  Desoto,  Tekaina,  and  Fontenelle,  all  occupy 
a  country  on  the  river,  north  and  south,  near  a  hundred 
miles  in  extent,  and  are  surrounded  with  good,  fertile,  and 
choice  lands.  Lime,  stone-coal,  and  other  minerals  have 
been  found  in  many  places,  and  this  country,  though  now 
but  little  known,  offers  great  inducements  to  settlers.  The 
capitol  being  permanently  located  at  Omaha  City  (oppo 
site  Council  Bluffs),  will  make  it,  eventually,  the  most 
important  city  in  the  Territory  or  State.  The  place  is 
beautifully  situated  on  a  high  bluff,  but  the  strip  of  low 
land  intervening  between  the  city  and  river  is  almost 
impassable  at  times,  during  high  water.  Bellevue,  nine 
miles  below,  is  the  point  at  which  the  Indian  Agency  for 
the  several  tribes  in  Nebraska  Territory  is  located.  The 
Presbyterian  Mission  for  the  Omaha  Indians  is  also  located 
here.  Farther  than  this,  the  place  is  at  present  of  not  much 
importance,  and  not  improving  as  rapidly  as  some  others. 
The  first  newspaper  ever  printed  in  the  Territory,  was  the 
«  Nebraska  Palladium,"  at  Bellevue,  in  the  fall  of  1854. 
Mt.  Vernon,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Weeping  Water,  is  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  sites  for  a  town,  in  the  Territory. 
With  an  abundance  of  good  building-stone,  timber,  and 
stone-coal,  surrounded  by  an  excellent  farming  country,  it 
must  eventually  become  one  of  the  most  important  towns. 


196       WESTERN    IOWA    AND     NEBRASKA. 

It  is  the  nearest  point  on  the  Missouri  to  "the  great 
Salt  Springs,  in  the  interior  of  Nebraska.  Nebraska 
City,  eight  miles  below  Mt.  Yernon,  is  a  place  of  some 
importance,  affords  a  fine  view  from  the  river,  is  sur 
rounded  by  a  fine  agricultural  country,  and  from  the 
character  of  its  newspapers,  we  infer  is  a  place  of  thrift, 
energy,  and  intelligence.  This  was  the  site  of  Old  Fort 
Kearney. 

The  following  is  the  conclusion  of  a  good-natured  letter 
from  one  of  a  company  who  immigrated  to  Nebraska,  and, 
finding  it  wanting,  returned  to  Iowa.  Of  Nebraska,  he 
says : 

"  Most  of  this  territory  has  a  very  fine  soil,  and  water 
sufficient  in  places  to  make  it  equal  to  Iowa,  but  the 
almost  total  absence  of  timber  may  keep  it  back  for  a 
great  while.  On  the  whole,  we  are  all  perfectly  convinced 
that  Iowa  is  the  place  for  us,  and  hence  return  well  satis 
fied  to  stay  here.  We  think  that  the  whole  territory  put 
together  cannot  have  one-half  the  timber  that  Iowa  has. — 
We  also  think  that  there  are  thousands  of  acres  of  unoccu 
pied  lands  in  Iowa,  better  situated  and  worth  double  what 
many  persons  are  claiming  and  asking,  which,  by  many,  are 
considered  exorbitant  prices,  and  in  many  cases  effect 
sales.  We  conclude  upon  the  whole,  that  Nebraska  is 
much  better  suited  for  the  elk  and  buffalo,  than  either 
for  Indian  or  white  man.  But  the  Indians  have  driven 
all  the  former  away,  and  wisely  sold  it  to  Uncle  Sam, 
being  of  no  further  use  to  them.  We  have  our  fears  lest 
Uncle  Sam  is  bit,  but  if  you  believe  all  the  newspaper 


WESTERN    IOWA    AND    NEBRASKA.       197 

stories  of  that  region  it  is  certainly  a  paradise,  but  Iowa 
for  me  forever.  WM.  CURLESS." 

Extract  from  a  letter  giving  a  description  of  the  country 

between  Council  Uluffs  and  Sargents'  Bluffs. 
<c  From  Council  Bluffs  I  started  north,  up  the  bottoms 
of  the  Missouri  River;  about  ten  miles  on  my  route  I  came  to 
Pigeon  Creek,  a  good  mill  stream,  and  improved  by  two  saw 
mills,  and  one  grist-mill,  near  the  road.  From  that,  twenty 
miles,  I  came  to  Williams'  Creek,  a  fine  stream  for  mills, 
and  improved  by  two  saw-mills.  The  soil  and  timber  is 
good  on  these  creeks,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  bor 
ders  of  the  Soldier,  Boyer,  Little  Sioux,  and  many  other 
streams  I  crossed.  In  passing  from  Council  Bluffs,  the  first 
fifty  miles,  after  passing  the  Little  Sioux,  I  came  to  a  fine 
dividing  ridge  bottom,  fifty  miles  long,  bordered  on  the  east 
by  the  Little  Sioux,  on  the  west  by  the  Missouri,  and  these 
streams  are  bordered  by  almost  a  continual  forest  from  one 
end  to  the  other  of  this  prairie.  This  bottom  is  dotted  over 
by  small  and  handsome  groves. — The  soil  is  of  the  finest 
quality,  and  of  a  great  variety.  You  find  the  highlands 
producing  the  blue-joint  grass,  almost  equal  to  timothy  for 
hay,  and  alongside  you  see  the  lowland  producing  the 
broad- leaf  saver  grass,  elegant  for  early  pasturage  and  good 
for  cattle-hay,  and  yielding  an  abundance  of  it  to  the  acre. 
— Next  you  will  find  large  tracts  of  good  land,  having  all 
the  appearance  of  old  fallow  fields,  and  next,  but  in  small 
portions,  you  will  see  near  the  lakes  tracts  of  land  produ 
cing  a  kind  of  grass,  resembling  kam,  of  the  blades  of  which 
17* 


198       WESTERN     IOWA    AND     NEBRASKA. 

the  cattle  are  very  fond ;  the  lowlands  are  covered  over  as 
thick  as  blue  grass  with  large  beds  of  rushes,  on  which  cattle 
will  keep  as  fat  as  seals  all  winter ;  and  to  increase  the  beauty 
of  this  bottom,  the  Great  Creator  has  interspersed  it  with 
several  handsome  lakes,  filled  with  fine  fish,  of  almost  every 
variety  of  fresh  water  kind. 

"  Sargent's  Bluff  City  is  a  handsomely  located  place  on 
high  lands,  on  the. bank  of  the  river  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff. 
The  bottom  is  one  mile  wide  at  the  north  of  the  town,  and 
on  the  south  it  widens  out  to  several  miles. 

"  The  bluffs  near  the  town  are  filled  with  good  building- 
stone.  The  city  is  laid  off  into  wards  or  districts,  thir 
teen  hundred  feet  square,  by  streets  running  at  right 
angles,  one  hundred  feet  wide.  In  the  centre  of  these  large 
districts  are  parks,  two  hundred  and  eighty  feet  wide,  by 
four  hundred  long,  and  the  districts  are  divided  (by  streets 
eighty  feet  wide,  running  at  right  angles)  into  blocks  of 
twelve  lots  each,  66  feet  wide  by  132  long.  On  the  site 
containing  340  acres,  there  are  eight  of  those  parks,  and 
twelve  market  squares,  with  a  number  of  other  lots  selected 
and  set  apart  for  churches,  lodges,  and  school-houses,  as 
marks  of  liberality  manifested  by  the  proprietors  of  this 
handsome  place.  Let  no  one  think  that  all  the  chances 
are  taken  in  these  parts.  There  is  plenty  of  timber  and 
prairie  to  be  taken  up,  of  the  best  quality.  Improved  lauds 
can  be  had  at  a  fair  price,  and  the  proprietors  of  those  rival 
cities  offer  large  inducements  to  purchasers,  and  the  demand 
for  all  kinds  of  mechanics  and  labor  is  very  great.  Wages 


NEW    COUNTIES.  199 

high,  and  other  inducements  flattering.  Every  thing  that 
is  necessary  for  improving  lots  can  be  purchased  here  at  a 
fair  price.  «  Yours,  &c., 

"S.  E.  PECK." 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

NEW    C  OUNTIES. 

BY  the  last  Congress,  three  new  land  districts  were 
formed,  which  are  marked  on  Henn,  Williams  &  Co/s 
Map  of  Iowa  for  1855.  The  Land  Offices  for  these  new 
districts  are  located  at  Decorah,  in  Winnesheik  County, 
Sioux  City,  (Sargent's  Bluffs),  in  Woodbury  County,  and 
at  Fort  Dodge,  in  Webster  County.  The  six  Land  Offices 
before  located  were  at  Dubuque,  Iowa  City,  Fairfield, 
Chariton,  Ft.  Des  Moines,  and  Council  Bluffs. 

In  the  north-western  part  of  the  State  lies  a  district  of 
territory  unsurveyed,  and  not  yet  in  the  market.  This  dis 
trict  is  190  miles  long  from  east  to  west  along  the  Minne 
sota  line,  and  80  miles  in  width,  divided  from  Nebraska 
Territory  by  the  Big  Sioux  River;  including  the  counties 
of  Worth,  Cerro  Gordo,  Franklin,  Winnebago,  Hancock, 
Kossuth,  Emmett,  Palo  Alto,  Pocahontas,  Dickinson,  Clay, 
Buena  Yista,  Osceola,  O'Brien,  Cherokee,  Buncombe, 
Sioux,  and  Plymouth.  Of  the  soil  in  this  section,  Owen 
says,  in  his  Geological  Report  to  Congress,  made  in  1852, 


200  NEW    COUNTIES. 

p.  25,  "  North  of  latitude  42°,  between  the  head  waters  of 
Three  and  Grand  Rivers,  there  are  distances  of  ten  or  fif 
teen  miles  without  any  timber;  while  between  the  waters 
of  the  Grand  River,  the  Nodaway,  and  the  Nishnabotna, 
the  open  prairie  is  often  twenty  miles  wide,  without  a  bush 
to  be  seen  higher  than  the  wild  indigo  or  compass  plant. 
The  soil,  too,  in  this  region,  is  generally  of  inferior  quality 
to  that  south  of  latitude,  41°  SO'/' 

These  counties  are  very  sparsely  settled,  and  some  of 
them,  we  are  informed,  do  not  contain  a  single  dwelling. 
Hence  it  is  impossible  to  procure  information  respecting 
this  portion  of  the  State,  without  travelling  over  it  in  person. 

Several  older  and  more  central  counties  are  not  mentioned 
in  our  list,  because  we  could  not  visit  them  in  time  for  this 
edition,  and  those  whom  we  addressed  failed  to  return  us 
information,  as  requested,  of  their  towns  and  counties.  The 
undescribed  counties  are,  Lucas,  Madison,  Montgomery, 
Monona,  Marshall,  Page,  Powesheik,  Story,  Shelby,  Taylor, 
Union,  and  "VVoodbury.  As  will  be  seen  by  reference  to 
the  map,  these  counties  are  comparatively  thinly  settled. 
The  amount  of  unentered  land  in  each  county  will  be  seen 
by  reference  to  the  proper  Chapter. 

"Public  Lands,  System  of  Surveys,  Land  Offices,  &c. 

"  In  all  the  new  States  and  Territories,  the  lands  which 
are  owned  by  the  General  Government  are  surveyed  and  sold 
under  one  general  system.  The  government  price  of  land 
is  $1  25  per  acre.  The  system  of  surveys  is  one  of  great 
accuracy  and  beauty.  Meridian  lines  are  established  and 


NEW    COUNTIES. 


201 


surveyed  in  a  line  due  north  from  some  given  point — gene 
rally  from  some  important  water-course.  These  are  inter 
sected  at  right  angles  with  a  base  line.  On  the  meridians, 
the  "  townships"  are  numbered  north  and  south  from  the 
base  lines ;  and,  on  the  base  lines,  "  ranges"  east  or  west  of 
the  meridian.  Township  lines  are  then  run,  at  a  distance 
of  six  miles,  parallel  to  the  meridian  and  base  lines.  Each 
township  contains  an  area  of  36  square  miles;  each  square 
mile  is  termed  a  section,  and  contains  640  acres.  The 
sections  are  numbered  from  1  to  86,  beginning  at  the 
north-east  corner  of  the  township,  as  the  following  diagram 
will  illustrate : — 


6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

18 

17 

16* 

15 

14 

13 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

30 

29 

28 

27 

26 

25 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

""When  surveyed,  the  lands  are  offered  for  sale  at  public 
auction,  but  cannot  be  disposed  of  at  a  less  price  than  one 
dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  That  portion  not 
sold  at  public  auction  is  subject  to  private  entry  at  any 
time,  for  the  above  price,  payable  in  cash  at  the  time  of 
entry. 

*  The  16th  section  in  each  township  is  appropriated  for  schools. 


202  UNENTERED    LANDS. 

"  Pre-emption  rights  give  the  improver  or  possessor  the 
privilege  of  purchasing  at  the  minimum  price. 

"  I  have  thus  endeavored  briefly  to  elucidate,  in  the  pre 
ceding  diagram,  the  system  of  the  surveys  of  public  lands ; 
which,  to  strangers  unacquainted  with  the  sections  and  sub 
divisions,  appears  perplexing  and  intricate." — NewliaWs 
Glimpse  at  Iowa. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

UNENTERED    LANDS    IN    THE    STATE. 

BY  the  following  reports  from  Land-Offices,  the  amount 
of  unentered  or  vacant  land  in  the  several  Districts  is  repre 
sented.  By  reference  to  the  map,  the  Land  Districts  will 
be  easily  recognised,  being  bounded  or  marked  by  pink 
lines. 

In  the  Fort  Des  Moincs  District. 

Jasper  County,  half  entered  —  say  230,000  acres  vacant. 
Mahaska,  mostly  entered.  Marion,  probably  three-fourths 
entered.  Marshall  contains  368,000  acres  —  three-fourths 
vacant.  Hardin,  the  same  —  also  three-fourths  vacant. 
Grundy,  Butler,  and  Floyd,  each  three-fourths  vacant. 
Mitchell  is  fully  nine-tenths  vacant. 

Each  county,  with  the  exception  of  Jasper,  Webster, 


UNENTERED    LANDS.  203 

Guthrie,  and  those  directly  on  the  State  line,  have  the  same 
area,  containing  about  368,000  acres. 

"Worth,  Cerro  Gordo,  Hancock,  Winnebago,  Bancroft, 
Kossuth,  Emmett,  Palo  Alto,  Pocahontas,  Humboldt, 
Wright,  Franklin,  and  Calhoun  are  almost  entirely  vacant. 

Emmett,  Bancroft,  Winnebago,  Hancock,  Kossuth,  Palo*1 
Alto,  Pocahontas,  and  Calhoun  are  not  in  the  market,  but 
probably  will  be  next  fall. 

Webster  County  is  nine-tenths  vacant.  Greene,  Boone, 
Story,  and  Guthrie,  each  three-fourths  vacant.  Polk  has, 
perhaps,  20,000  acres  of  prairie  vacant.  Adair  and  Dallas 
half  vacant.  Madison  one-fourth,  Warren  one-eighth,  and 
Marion  one-tenth  vacant. 

All  the  counties  iu  this  District  are  well  watered,  and, 
on  the  streams,  generally  possess  good  timber.  In  such 
counties  as  are  in  market,  but  little  timber-land  remains  to 
be  entered,  though  it  can  be  purchased  from  present  holders 
at  from  $2  50  to  $20  per  acre,  according  to  quality  and 
location. 

The  receipts  at  the  Fort  Des  Moines  Land-Office,  in 
seven  months  previous  to  the  1st  of  March,  1855,  were 
$962,373  97. 

In  the  Council  Bluffs  (Kanesvillej)  District. 

This  District  contains  about  9,584,640  acres.  The 
counties  composing  the  District  average  about  368,640 
acres  each. 

More  than  three-fourths  of  this  immense  body  of  land 
remains  vacant,  and  subject  to  entry  at  $1  25  per  acre. 

About  one-half  of  the  land  in  Fremont,  Mills,  and  Pot- 


204 


UNENTERED    LANDS. 


tawattamie  Counties  is  purchased ;  less  than  one-fourth  in 
Harrison,  Adams,  and  Taylor  Counties;  less  than  one- 
eighth  in  Page,  Cass,  Monona,  Shelby,  and  Woodbury 
Counties ;  less  than  one-twentieth  in  Audubon,  Carroll, 
Crawford,  Sac,  and  Ida  Counties.  The  rest  of  the  counties 
in  the  District  are  entirely  vacant. 

This  Land-Office  was  opened  for  pre-emption  entries  on 
the  12th  of  March,  1853,  and  the  first  public  land  sale  was 
made  on  the  6th  of  June  following.  Since  the  opening 
of  the  office,  488,841  acres  have  been  sold,  amounting  to 
$611,051  26. 

In  the  Fair  field  District. 


Vacant  Lands. 

Vacant  Lands. 

Acres. 

Acres. 

Appanoose  Co. 

contains,  14,680 

Washington 

Co.  contains,  1,440 

Monroe         " 

16,140 

Lee 

200 

Muhaska      " 

2,734 

Henry 

332 

Davis            " 

14,320 

Louisa 

440 

Wapello 

2,120 

Des  Moines 

ii           ii           440 

T7*        11                 4  i 

n              r  qqo 

Van  Buren  " 

O,  Od& 

3,080 

Total, 

61,708 

Jefferson       " 

"             450 

In  the  Charifon  District, 

The  amount  of  unentered  land  in  the  several  counties,  as 
near  as  can  be  estimated,  is  as  follows : 


Vacant  Lands. 

Vacant  Lands. 

Acres. 

Acres. 

Appanoose 

Co.  contains,  20,000 

Ringgold  Co. 

contains,   300,000 

Monroe 

46,000 

Clark          " 

50,000 

Marion 

«         «          12,000 

Madison     *' 

80,000 

Wayne 

136,000 

Union         " 

230,000 

Lucas 

«         «           70,000 

Adair          " 

80,000 

Warren 

70,000 

Decatur 

110,000 

Total, 

1,204,000 

UNENTERED    LANDS.  205 

The  Iowa  City  Land  District 

Consists  of  the  Counties  of  Clinton,  Scott,  Muscatine, 
Johnson,  Cedar,  Iowa,  and  Powasheik ;  the  four  southern 
townships  of  Jones;  eight  southern  townships  of  Linn;  eight 
of  Benton,  and  eight  of  Taina  Counties ;  four  in  the  north 
east  corner  of  Mahaska,  six  in  the  north  of  Keokuk,  six  in  the 
north  of  Washington,  and  one  township  of  Louisa  County. 

Nearly  all  the  lands  in  this  District  are  now  entered,  and 
I  suppose  not  over  200,000  acres  are  vacant;  much  of  it 
lying  in  small,  scattered  tracts,  so  that  it  would  hardly  be 
worth  while  to  enter  into  statistics.  Most  of  the  vacant  lands, 
however,  are  in  Tama  County.  An  enumeration  would  be 
fully  as  much  trouble  as  if  there  were  more,  and  the  busi 
ness  of  the  office  has  so  diminished,  that  the  undertaking 
would  not  be  necessary  at  all  to  the  usefulness  of  our  work. 

[NOTE. — The  foregoing  lists  of  unentered  lands  were 
procured  in  March.  Since  then  heavy  entries  have  been 
made,  especially  in  the  Fort  Des  Moines  and  Kanesville 
(Council  Bluffs)  Districts. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1855,  the  land-office  at  Fort 
Dodge  will  be  opened,  and  some  thirteen  counties  of  land 
brought  into  market.  The  author  made  a  tour  through 
this  district  in  June,  inst.,  and  can  assure  those  wishing 
desirable  locations,  that  the  north-western  portion  of  the 
State  is  rich  in  eligible  mill-sites,  heavy  timbered  lands, 
running  streams  of  pure  and  lasting  water,  the  best  of 
prairie  soil,  and  extensive  beds  of  iron  ore,  coal,  gypsum, 
red  and  yellow  ochre,  &c.] 
18 


206  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

CONSTITUTION    OF   THE    STATE    OF   IOWA. 
(Adopted  in  Convention,  May  18, 1846.) 


Preamble  and  Boundaries. — WE,  the  People  of  the  Terri 
tory  of  Iowa,  grateful  to  the  Supreme  Being  for  the  bless 
ings  hitherto  enjoyed,  and  feeling  our  dependence  on  Him 
for  a  continuation  of  those  blessings,  do  ordain  and  esta 
blish  a  free  and  independent  government,  by  the  name 
of  the  State  of  Iowa,  the  boundaries  whereof  shall  be  as 
follows : 

Beginning  in  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  River,  at  a  point  due  east  of  the  middle  of  the 
mouth  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Des  Moines  River,  thence 
up  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  said  Des  Moines 
River,  to  a  point  on  said  river  where  the  northern  bound 
ary  line  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  as  established  by  the  Con 
stitution  of  that  State,  adopted  June  12th,  1820,  crosses 
the  said  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  said  Des  Moines 
River;  thence  westwardly,  along  the  said  northern  bound 
ary  line  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  as  established  at  the  time 
aforesaid,  until  an  extension  of  said  line  intersect  the  mid 
dle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Missouri  River ;  thence  up 


CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA.  207 

the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  said  Missouri  River, 
to  a  point  opposite  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the 
Big  Sioux  River,  according  to  Nicollett's  map ;  thence  up 
the  main  channel  of  the  said  Big  Sioux  River,  according  to 
said  map,  until  it  is  intersected  by  the  parallel  of  forty-three 
degrees  and  thirty  minutes  north  latitude ;  thence  east,  along 
said  parallel  of  forty-three  degrees  and  thirty  minutes,  until 
said  parallel  intersect  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of 
the  Mississippi  River;  thence  down  the  middle  of  the  main 
channel  of  said  Mississippi  River,  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Bill  of  Rights. — 1 .  All  men  are,  by  nature,  free  and  in 
dependent,  and  have  certain  inalienable  rights,  among  which 
are  those  of  enjoying  and  defending  life  and  liberty,  acquir 
ing,  possessing,  and  protecting  property,  and  pursuing  and 
obtaining  safety  and  happiness. 

2.  All  political  power  is  inherent  in  the  people.     Go 
vernment  is  instituted  for  the  protection,  security,  and  be 
nefit  of  the  people ;  and  they  have  the  right  at  all  times  to 
alter  or  reform  the  same,  whenever  the  public  good  may 
require  it. 

3.  The  General  Assembly  shall  make  no  law  respecting 
an  establishment  of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise 
'thereof,  nor  shall  any  person  be  compelled  to  attend  any 
place  of  worship,  pay  tithes,  taxes,  or  other  rates,  for  build 
ing  or  repairing  places  of  worship,  or  for  the  maintenance 
of  any  minister  or  ministry. 

4.  No  religious  test  shall  be  required  as  a  qualification 
for  any  office  or  public  trust,  and  no  person  shall  be  de- 


208  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

prived  of  any  of  his  rights,  privileges  or  capacities,  or  dis 
qualified  from  the  performance  of  any  of  his  public  or  pri 
vate  duties,  or  rendered  incompetent  to  give  evidence  in 
any  court  of  law  or  equity,  in  consequence  of  his  opinions 
on  the  subject  of  religion. 

5.  Any  citizen  of  this  State,  who  may  hereafter  be  en 
gaged,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  in  a  duel,  either  as  prin 
cipal  or  accessory  before  the  fact,  shall  forever  be  disquali 
fied  from  holding  any  office  under  the  Constitution  and  laws 
of  this  State. 

6.  All  laws  of  a  general  nature  shall  have  a  uniform 
operation. 

7.  Every  person  may  speak,  write,  and  publish  his  sen 
timents  on  all  subjects,  being  responsible  for  the  abuse  of 
that  right.     No  law  shall  be  passed  to  restrain  or  abridge 
the  liberty  of  speech  or  of  the  press.     In  all  prosecutions 
or  indictments  for  libel,  the  truth  may  be  given  in  evidence 
to  the  jury,  and  if  it  appear  to  the  jury  that  the  matter 
charged  as  libellous  was  true,  and  was  published  with  good 
motives,  and  for  justifiable  ends,  the  party  shall  be  acquitted. 

8.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons, 
houses,  papers   and  effects,  against  unreasonable  seizures 
and  searches,  shall  not  be  violated;  and  no  warrant  shall 
issue,  but  on  probable  cause,  supported  by  oath  or  affirma 
tion,  particularly  describing  the  place  to  be  searched,  and 
the  papers  and  things  to  be  seized. 

'9.  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  remain  inviolate ;  but 
the  General  Assembly  may  authorize  trial  by  a  jury  of  a 
less  number  than  twelve  men  in  inferior  'courts. 


CONSTITUTION    OP    IOWA.  209 

10.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  have  a 
right  to  a  speedy  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury;  to  be  informed 
of  the  accusation  against  him ;  to  be  confronted  with  the 
witnesses  against  him;  to  have  compulsory  process  for  his 
own  witnesses,  and  to  have  the  assistance  of  counsel. 

11.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  criminal  of 
fence,  unless  on  presentment  or  indictment  by  a  grand  jury, 
except  in  cases  cognizable  by  justices  of  the  peace,  or  arising 
in  the  army  and  navy,  or  in  the  militia  when  in  actual  ser 
vice,  in  time  of  war,  or  public  danger. 

12.  No  person  shall,  after  acquittal,  be  tried  for  the  same 
offence.     All  persons  shall,  before  conviction,  be  bailable, 
by  sufficient  sureties,  except  for  capital  offences,  where  the 
proof  is  evident,  or  the  presumption  great. 

13.  The  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  shall  not  be  suspended, 
unless,  in  case  of  rebellion  or  invasion,  the  public  safety  re 
quires  it. 

14.  The  military  shall  be  subordinate  to  the  civil  power. 
No  standing  army  shall  be  kept  up  by  the  State  in  time  of 
peace,  and  in  time  of  war  no  appropriation  for  a  standing 
army  shall  be  for  a  longer  time  than  two  years. 

15.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in 
any  house,  without  the  consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time 
of  war,  except  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  law. 

16.  Treason  against  the  State  shall  consist  only  in  levy 
ing  war  against  it,  adhering  to  its  enemies,  or  giving  them 
aid  and  comfort.     No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason 
unless  on  evidence  of  two  witnesses  to  the  same  overt  act, 
or  confession  in  open  court. 

18* 


210  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

17.  Excessive  bail   shall  not   be   required.     Excessive 
fines  shall  not  be  imposed ;  and  cruel  and  unusual  punish 
ments  shall  not  be  inflicted. 

18.  Private  property  shall  not  be  taken  for  public  use 
without  just  compensation. 

19.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  debt  in  any  civil 
action  on  rnesne,  or  final  process,  unless  in  cases  of  fraud ; 
and  no  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  a  militia  fine  in  time 
of  peace. 

20.  The  people  have  the  right  freely  to  assemble  together 
to  consult  for  the  common  good,  to  make  known  their  opi 
nions  to  their  representatives,  and  to  petition  for  redress  of 
grievances. 

21.  No  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  im 
pairing  the  obligation  of  contracts,  shall  ever  be  passed. 

22.  Foreigners  who  are,  or  who  may  hereafter  become 
residents  of  this  State,  shall  enjoy  the  same  rights,  in  res 
pect  to  the  possession,  enjoyment,  and  descent  of  property, 
as  native  born  citizens. 

23.  Neither  slavery,  nor  involuntary  servitude,  unless  for 
the  punishment  of  crimes,  shall  ever  be  tolerated  in  this 
State. 

24.  This  enumeration  of  rights  shall  not  be  construed  to 
impair  or  deny  others,  retained  by  the  people. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Ricjlit  of  Suffrage. — 1.  Every  white  male  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  who  shall 
have  been  a  resident  of  the  State  six  months  next  preceding 


CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA.  211 

the  election,  and  the  county  in  which  he  claims  his  vote 
twenty  days,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  all  elections  which 
are  now,  or  hereafter  may  be  authorized  by  law. 

2.  Electors  shall,  in  all  cases,  except  treason,  felony,  or 
breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  on  the  days 
of  election,  during  their  attendance  at  such  election,  going 
to,  and  returning  therefrom. 

3.  No  elector  shall  be  obliged  to  perform  militia  duty  on 
the  day  of  election,  except  in  time  of  war,  or  public  danger. 

4.  No  person  in  the  military,  naval,  or  marine  service  of 
the  United   States,  shall  be  considered  a  resident  of  this 
State  by  being  stationed  in  any  garrison,  barrack,  or  mili 
tary  or  naval  place  or  station  within  this  State. 

5.  No  idiot  or  insane  person,  or  persons  convicted  of  any 
infamous  crime,  shall  be  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  an 
elector. 

6.  All  elections  by  the  people,  shall  be  by  ballot. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Of  the  Distribution  of  Power. — 1.  The  powers  of  the 
government  of  Iowa  shall  be  divided  into  three  separate  de 
partments  ;  the  legislative,  the  executive,  and  judicial ;  and 
no  person  charged  with  the  exercise  of  powers  properly  be 
longing  to  one  of  these  departments,  shall  exercise  any  func 
tion  appertaining  to  either  of  the  others,  except  in  cases 
hereinafter  expressly  directed  or  permitted. 

Legislative  Department. — 1.  The  Legislative  authority 
of  this  State  shall  be  vested  in  a  Senate  and  House  of  Re 
presentatives,  which  shall  be  designated  the  General  Assem- 


212  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

bly  of  the  State  of  Iowa,  and  the  style  of  their  laws  shall 
commence  in  the  following  manner :  "  Be  it  enacted  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Iowa." 

2.  The  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly  shall  be  bien 
nial,  and  shall  commence  on  the  first  Monday  of  December 
next  ensuing  the  election  of  its  members;  unless  the  Go 
vernor  of  the  State  shall,  in  the  -interim,  convene  the  Ge 
neral  Assembly  by  proclamation. 

3.  The  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
be  chosen  every  second  year,  by  the  qualified  electors  of 
their  respective  districts,  on  the  first  Monday  in  August, 
whose  term  of  office  shall  continue  two  years  from  the  day 
of  the  general  election. 

4.  No  person  shall  be  a  member  of  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years ;  be  a  free  white  male  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
and  have  been  an  inhabitant  of  this  State  or  Territory  one 
year  next  preceding  his  election ;  and  at  the  time  of  his 
election,  have  an  actual  residence  of  thirty  days  in  the 
county  or  district  he  may  be  chosen  to  represent. 

5.  Senators  shall  be  chosen  for  the  term  of  four  years, 
at  the  same  time  and  place  as  Representatives ;  they  shall 
be  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  possess  the  qualifications  of 

^Representatives  as  to  residence  and  citizenship. 

6.  The  number  of  Senators  shall  not  be  less  than  one- 
third,  nor  more  than  one-half  of  the  Representative  body; 
and  at  the  first  session  of  the  General  Assembly  after  this 
Constitution  takes  effect,  the  Senators  shall  be  divided  by 
lot,  as  equally  as  may  be,  into  two  classes ;  the  seats  of  the 


CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA.  213 

Senators  of  the  first  class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  expiration 
of  the  second  year,  so  that  one  half  shall  be  chosen  every 
two  years. 

7.  When  the  number  of  Senators  is  increased,  they  shall 
be  annexed  by  lot  to  one  of  the  two  classes,  so  as  to  keep 
them  as  nearly  equal  in  number  as  practicable. 

8.  Each  House  shall  choose  its  own  officers,  and  judge  of 
the  qualification,  election,  and  return  of  its  own  members. 
A  contested  election  shall  be  determined  in  such  manner  as 
shall  be  directed  by  law. 

9.  A  majority  of  each  House  shall  constitute  a  quorum 
to  do  business,  but  a  smaller  number  may  adjourn  from 
day  to  day,  and  may  compel  the  attendance  of  absent  mem 
bers,  in  such  manner  and  under  such  penalties  as  each  House 
may  provide. 

10.  Each  House  shall  sit  upon  its  own  adjournments,  keep 
a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  publish  the  same;  deter 
mine  its  rules  of  proceedings,  punish  members  for  disorderly 
behaviour,  and,  with  the  consent  of  two-thirds,  expel  a  mem 
ber,  but  not  a  second  time  for  the  same  offence ;  and  shall 
have  all  other  powers  necessary  for  a  branch  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  a  free  and  independent  State. 

11.  Every  member  of  the  General  Assembly  shall  have 
the  liberty  to  dissent  from,  or  protest  against,  any  act  or 
resolution  which  he  may  think  injurious  to  the  public,  or 
an  individual,  and  have  the  reasons  for  his  dissent  entered 
on  the  journals;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  members  of 
either  fiouse,  on  any  question,  shall,  at  the  desire  of  any  two 
members  present,  be  entered  on  the  journals. 


214  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

12.  Senators  and  Representatives,  in  all  cases  except 
treason,  felony,  or  breach  of  the  peace,  shall  be  privileged 
from  arrest  during  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  in  going  to,  and  returning  from  the  same. 

13.  When  vacancies  occur  in  either  House,  the  Governor, 
jr  the  person  exercising  the  functions  of  Governor,  shall 
issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such  vacancies. 

14.  The  doors  of  each  House  shall  be  open,  except  on 
such  occasion  as,  in  the  opinion  of  the  House,  may  require 
secrecy. 

15.  Neither  House  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  other, 
adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other  place 
than  that  in  which  they  may  be  sitting. 

16.  Bills  may  originate  in  either  House,  except  bills  for 
revenue,  which   shall   always  originate   in  the   House  of 
Representatives,  and  may  be  amended,  altered,  or  rejected 
by  the  other ;  and  every  bill,  having  passed  both  Houses, 
shall   be  signed   by  the   Speaker  and  President  of  their 
respective  Houses. 

17.  Every  bill  which   shall   have   passed   the  General 
Assembly  shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  presented  to  the 
Governor.     If  he  approve,  he  shall  sign  it ;  but  if  not,  he 
shall  return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  the  House  in  which  it 
originated,  which  shall  enter  the  same  upon  the  journal,  and 
proceed  to  reconsider  it :  if,  after  such  reconsideration,  it 
again  pass  both  Houses,  by  yeas  and  nays,  by  a  majority  of 
two-thirds  of  the  members  of  each  House  present,  it  shall 
become  a  law,  notwithstanding  the  Governor's  objections. 
If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  within  three  days  after  it 


CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA.  215 

sball  have  been  presented  to  him,  Sundays  excepted,  the 
same  shall  be  a  law  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it ; 
unless  the  General  Assembly,  by  adjournment,  prevent 
such  return. 

18.  An  accurate  statement  of  the  receipts  and  expendi 
tures  of  the  public  money  shall  be  attached  to,  and  pub 
lished  with  the  laws,  at  every  regular  session  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

19.  The  House  of  Kepresentatives  shall  have  the  sole 
power  of  impeachment,  and  all  impeachments  shall  be  tried 
by  the  Senate.     When  sitting  for  that  purpose,  the  Senators 
shall  be  upon  oath  or  affirmation,  and  no  person  shall  be 
convicted  without   the   concurrence  of   two-thirds  of   the 
members  present. 

20.  The  Governor,  Secretary  of  State,  Auditor,  Trea 
surer,  and  Judges  of  the  Supreme  and  District  Courts  shall 
be  liable  to  impeachment  for  any  misdemeanor  in  office  ]  but 
judgment  in  such  cases  shall  extend  only  to  removal  from 
office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  any  office  of  honor,  trust, 
or  profit  under  this  State ;  but  the  party  convicted  or  acquit 
ted,  shall,  nevertheless,  be  liable  to  indictment,  trial,  and 
punishment,  according  to  law.    All  other  civil  officers  shall 
be  tried  for  misdemeanors  in  office  in  such  manner  as  the 
General  Assembly  may  provide. 

21.  No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during  the  time^ 
for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  be  appointed  to  any 
civil  office  of  profit  under  this  State,  which  shall  have  been 
created,  or  the  emoluments  of  which  shall  have  been  increased, 


216  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

during  such  term,  except  such  offices  as  may  be  filled  by 
elections  by  the  people. 

22.  No  person   holding  any  lucrative  office  under  the 
United  States,  or  this  State,  or  any  other  power,  shall  be 
eligible  to  the  General  Assembly :  Provided,  That  offices  in 
the  militia,  to  which  there  is  attached  no  annual  salary,  or 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  or  postmasters  whose  com 
pensation  does  not  exceed  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum, 
shall  not  be  deemed  lucrative. 

23.  No  person  who  may  hereafter  be  a  collector  or  holder 
of  public  monies,  shall  have  a  seat  in  either  house  of  the 
General  Assembly,  or  be  eligible  to  any  office  of  trust  or 
profit  under  this  State,  until  he  shall  have  accounted  for, 
and  paid  into  the  treasury,  all  sums  for  which  he  may  be 
liable. 

24.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury  but  in 
consequence  of  appropriations  made  by  law. 

25.  Each  member  of  the  General  Assembly  shall  receive 
a  compensation,  to  be  fixed  by  law,  for  his  services,  to  be 
paid  out  of  the  treasury  of  the  State.     Such  compensation 
shall  not  exceed  two  dollars  per  day,  for  the  period  of  fifty 
days  from  the  commencement  of  the  session,  and  shall  not 
exceed  the  sum  of  one  dollar  per  day  for  the  remainder  of 
the    session.     When   convened   in   extra   session   by  the 
Governor,  they  shall  receive  such  sum  as  shall  be  fixed  for 
the  first  fifty  days  of  the  ordinary  session.     They  shall  also 
receive  two  dollars  for  every  twenty  miles  they  travel,  in 
going  to,  and  returning  from  their  place  of  meeting,  on  the 
most  usual  route :  Provided,  however,  That  the  members 


CONSTITUTION     OF    IOWA.  217 

of  the  first  General  Assembly  under  this  Constitution  shall 
receive  two  dollars  per  day  for  their  services  during  the 
entire  session. 

26.  Every  law  shall  embrace  but  one  object,  which  shall 
be  expressed  in  the  title. 

27.  No  law  of  the  General  Assembly,  of  a  public  nature, 
shall  take  effect  until  the  same  shall  be  published  and  cir 
culated  in  the  several  counties  of  this  State,  by  authority. 
If  the  General  Assembly  shall  deem  any  law  of  immediate 
importance,  they  may  provide  that  the  same  shall  take  effect 
by  publication  in  newspapers  in  the  State. 

28.  No  divorce  shall  be  granted  by  the  General  Assem 
bly. 

29.  No  lottery  shall  be  authorized  by  this  State,  nor 
shall  the  sale  of  lottery  tickets  be  allowed. 

30.  Members  of  the  General  Assembly  shall,  before  they 
enter  upon  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  take  and 
subscribe  the  following  oath  or  affirmation :  "I  do  solemnly 
swear,  or  affirm,  (as  the  case  may  be,)  that  I  will  support 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Constitution 
of  the  State  of  Iowa,  and  that  I  will  faithfully  discharge 
the  duties  of  Senator,  (or  Representative,  as  the  case  may 
be,)  according  to  the  best  of  my  ability."  And  members  of 
the  General  Assembly  are  hereby  empowered  to  administer 
to  each  other  the  said  oath  or  affirmation. 

31.  Within  one  year  after  the  ratification  of  this  Consti 
tution,  and  within  every  subsequent  term  of  two  years,  for 
the  term  of  eight  years,  an  enumeration  of  all  the  white 
inhabitants  of  this  State  shall  be  made  in  such  manner  as 

19 


218  CONSTITUTION     OF     IOWA. 

shall  be  directed  by  law.  The  number  of  Senators  and 
Representatives  shall,  at  the  first  regular  session  of  the 
General  Assembly,  after  such  enumeration,  be  fixed  by  law, 
and  apportioned  among  the  several  counties,  according  to 
the  number  of  white  inhabitants  in  each,  and  shall  also,  at 
every  subsequent  regular  session,  apportion  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  every  other  regular  session  the  Senate, 
for  eight  years;  and  the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
never  be  less  than  twenty-six,  nor  greater  than  thirty-nine, 
until  the  number  of  white  inhabitants  shall  be  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  thousand ;  and  after  that  event,  at  such 
ratio  that  the  whole  number  of  Representatives  shall  never 
be  less  than  thirty-nine,  nor  exceeding  seventy-two. 

32.  When  a  Congressional,  Senatorial,  or  Representative 
district  shall  be  composed  of  two  or  more  counties,  it  shall 
not   bo    entirely  separated   by  any  county    belonging   to 
another  district;  and  no  county  shall  be  divided  in  forming 
a  Congressional,  Senatorial,  or  Representative  district. 

33.  In  all  elections  by  the  General  Assembly,  the  mem 
bers  thereof  shall  vote  viva  voce}-  and  the  votes  shall  be  en 
tered  on  the  journal. 

34.  For  the  first  ten  years  after  the  organization  of  the 
government,  the  annual  salary  of  the  Governor  shall  not 
exceed  one  thousand  dollars;  Secretary  of  State,  five  hun 
dred  dollars;    Treasurer,  four  hundred  dollars;    Auditor, 
six  hundred  dollars ;  Judges  of  the  Supreme  and  District 
Courts,  each  one  thousand  dollars. 


CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA.  219 

ARTICLE.  IV. 

Executive  Department. — 1.  The  Supreme  Executive 
power  of  this  State  shall  be  vested  in  a  Chief  Magistrate, 
who  shall  be  styled  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Iowa. 

2.  The  Governor  shall  be  elected  by  the  qualified  eleo 
tors,  at  the  time  and  place  of  voting  for  members  of  the 
General  Assembly,  and  shall  hold  his  office  four  years  from 
the  time  of  his  installation,  and  until  his  successor  shall  be 
qualified. 

3.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  Governor, 
who  has  not  been  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  a  resi 
dent  of  the  State  next  preceding  the  election,  and  attained 
the  age  of  thirty  years  at  the  time  of  said  election. 

4.  The  returns  of  every  election  for  Governor  shall  be 
sealed   up    and   transmitted   to   the   seat  of  Government, 
directed  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
who  shall,  during  the  first  week  of  the  session,  open  and 
publish  them  in  presence  of  both  Houses  of  the  General 
Assembly.     The  person  having   the    highest   number  of 
votes,  shall  be  Governor ;  but  in  case  any  two  or  more  have 
an  equal  and  the  highest  number  of  votes,  the  General 
Assembly  shall,  by  joint  ballot,  choose  one  of  said  per 
sons  so  having  an  equal  and  highest  number  of  votes,  for 
Governor. 

5.  The  Governor  shall  be  Commander-in- Chief  of  the 
militia,  the  army  and  navy  of  this  State. 

6.  He  shall    transact  all  executive  business,  with  the 
officers  of  Government,  civil  and  military,  and  may  require 
information  in  writing  from  the  officers  of  the  executive 


220  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

department  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their 
respective  offices. 

7.  He  shall  see  that  the  laws  are  faithfully  executed. 

8.  When  any  office  shall  from  any  cause  become  vacant, 
and  no  mode  is  provided  by  the  Constitution  and  laws  for 
filling  such  vacancy,  the  Governor  shall  have  power  to  fill 
such  vacancy,  by  granting  a  commission,  which  shall  expire 
at  the  end  of  the  next  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  or 
at  the  next  election  by  the  people. 

9.  He   may,   on  extraordinary  occasions,  convene   the 
General  Assembly  by  proclamation,  and  shall  state  to  both 
Houses,  when  assembled,  the  purposes  for  which  they  shall 
have  been  convened. 

10.  He  shall  communicate  by  message  to  the  General 
Assembly,  at  every  session,  the  condition  of  the  State,  and 
recommend  such  matters  as  he  shall  deem  expedient. 

11.  In  case  of  disagreement  between  the  two  Houses, 
with  respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment,  the  Governor  shall 
have  power  to  adjourn  the  General  Assembly  to  such  time 
as  he  may  think  proper,  provided  it  be  not  beyond  the 
time  fixed  for  the  meeting  of  the  next  General  Assembly. 

12.  No   person    shall,  while    holding   any  other  office 
under  the  United  States,  or  this  State,  execute  the  office  of 
Governor,  except  as  hereinafter  expressly  provided. 

13.  The  Governor  shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves 
and  pardons,  and  commute  punishments  after  conviction, 
except  in  case  of  impeachment. 

14.  The  Governor  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  his 
services  a  compensation  which  shall  neither  be  increased 


CONSTITUTION    OP    IOWA.  221 

nor  diminished  during  the  time  for  which  he  shall  have  been 
elected. 

15.  There  shall  be  a  seal  of  this  State,  which  shall  be 
kept  by  the  Governor,  and  used  by  him  officially,  and  shall 
be  called  the  Great  Seal  of  the  State  of  Iowa. 

16.  All  grants  and  commissions  shall  be  in  the  name 
and  by  the  authority  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Iowa, 
sealed  with  the  great  seal  of  this  State,  signed  by  the  Gover 
nor,  and  countersigned  by  the  Secretary  of  State. 

17.  A  Secretary  of  State,  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts, 
and  Treasurer,  shall  be  elected  by  the  qualified  electors, 
who  shall  continue  in  office  two  years.     The  Secretary  of 
State  shall  keep  a  fair  register  of  all  the  official  acts  of  the 
Governor,  and  shall,  when  required,  lay  the  same,  together 
with  all  papers,  minutes,  and  vouchers,  relative  thereto, 
before  either  branch  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  shall 
perform  such  other  duties  as  shall  be  assigned  him  by  law. 

18.  In  case  of  impeachment  of  the  Governor,  his  removal 
from  office,  death,  resignation,  or  absence  from  the  State, 
the  powers  and  duties  of  the  office  shall  devolve  upon  the 
Secretary  of  State,  until  such  disability  shall  cease,  or  the 
vacancy  be  filled. 

19.  If,  during  the  vacancy  of  the  office  of  Governor,  the 
Secretary  of  State  shall  be  impeached,  displaced,  resign,  die, 
or  be  absent  from  the  State,  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  office 
of  Governor  shall  devolve  upon  the  President  of  the  Senate ; 
and  should  a  vacancy  occur  by  impeachment,  death,  resig 
nation,  or  absence  from  the  State,  of  the  President  of  the 

19* 


222  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

Senate,  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
act  as  Governor  till  the  vacancy  be  filled. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Judicial  Department. — 1.  The  Judicial  power  shall  be 
rested  in  the  Supreme  Court,  District  Courts,  and  such  in- 
-erior  Courts,  as  the  General  Assembly  may  from  time  to 
Jme  establish. 

2.  The  Supreme  Court  shall  consist  of  a  Chief  Justice, 
and  two  Associates,  two  of  whom  shall  be  a  quorum  to  hold 
a  Court. 

3.  The  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  shall  be  elected  by 
joint  vote  of  both  branches  of  the  General  Assembly,  and 
shall  hold  their  Courts  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  Gene 
ral  Assembly  may  direct,  and  hold  their  offices  for  six 
years,  and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified, 
and  shall  be  ineligible  to  any  other  office  during  the  term 
for  which  they  may  be  elected.     The  Supreme  Court  shall 
have  appellate  jurisdiction  only  in  all  cases  in  chancery,  and 
shall  constitute  a  Court  for  the  correction  of  errors  at  law, 
under  such  restrictions  as  the  General  Assembly  may  by 
law  prescribe. — The  Supreme  Court  shall  have  power  to 
issue  all  writs  and  process  necessary  to  do  justice  to  parties^ 
and  exercise   a  supervisory  control  over  all  inferior  judicial 
tribunals,  and  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  shall  be 
conservators  of  the  peace  throughout  the  State. 

4.  The  District  Court  shall  consist  of  a  Judge,  who  shall 
be  elected  by  the  qualified  voters  of  the  district  in  which  he 
resides,  at  the  township  election,  and  hold  his  office  for  tho 


CONSTITUTION     OF    IOWA.  223 

term  of  five  years,  and  until  his  successor  is  duly  elected 
and  qualified,  and  shall  be  ineligible  to  any  other  office 
during  the  term  for  which  he  may  be  elected.  The  Dis 
trict  Court  shall  be  a  court  of  law  and  equity,  and  have 
"jurisdiction  in  all  civil  and  criminal  matters  arising  in  their 
respective  districts,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  prescribed 
by  law.  The  Judges  of  the  District  Court  shall  be  conser 
vators  of  the  peace  in  their  respective  districts.  The  first 
session  of  the  General  Assembly  shall  divide  the  State  into 
four  districts,  which  may  be  increased  as  the  exigencies 
require. 

5.  The  qualified  voters  of  each  county  shall,  at  the  gene 
ral  election,  elect  one  Prosecuting  Attorney,  and  one  Clerk 
of  the  District  Court,  who  shall  be  residents  therein,  and 
who  shall  hold  their  several  ofiices  for  the  term  of  two 
years,  and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

6.  The  style  of  all  process  shall  be   "The  State  of 
Iowa,"  and  all  prosecutions  shall  be  conducted  in  the  name, 
and  by  authority  of  the  same. 

ARTICLE  VI, 

Militia. — 1.  The  militia  of  this  State  shall  be  composed 
of  all  able-bodied  white  male  citizens,  between  the  ages  of 
eighteen  and  forty-five  years,  except  such  as  are,  or  may 
hereafter  be  exempt  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  or 
of  this  State,  and  shall  be  armed,  equipped,  and  trained  as 
the  G-eneral  Assembly  may  provide  by  law. 

2.  No  person  or  persons,  conscientiously  scrupulous  of 
bearing  arms?  shall  be  compelled  to  do  militia  duty,  in  time 


224  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

of  peace ;  provided,  that  such  person  or  persons  shall  pay 
an  equivalent  for  such  exemption  in  the  same  manner  as 
other  citizens. 

3.  All  commissioned  officers  of  the  militia,  (staff  officers 
excepted,)  shall  be  elected  by  the  persons  liable  to  perform 
military  duty,  and  shall  be  commissioned  by  the  Governor. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

State  Debts. — 1.  The  General  Assembly  shall  not,  in  any 
manner  create  any  debt  or  debts,  liability  or  liabilities, 
•which  shall,  singly,  or  in  the  aggregate,  with  any  previous 
debts  or  liabilities,  exceed  the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  except  in  case  of  war,  to  repel  invasion,  or  suppress 
insurrection,  unless  the  same  shall  be  authorized  by  some 
law  for  some  single  object,  or  work,  to  be  distinctly  speci 
fied  therein,  which  law  shall  provide  ways  and  means,  ex 
clusive  of  loans,  for  the  payment  of  the  interest  of  such 
debt  or  liability,  as  it  falls  due,  and  also  to  pay  and  dis 
charge  the  principal  of  such  debt  or  liability  within  twenty 
years  from  the  time  of  contracting  thereof,  and  shall  be 
irrepealable  until  the  principal  and  the  interest  thereon 
shall  be  paid  and  discharged;  but  no  such  law  shall  take 
effect,  until,  at  a  general  election,  it  shall  have  been  sub 
mitted  to  the  people,  and  have  received  a  majority  of  all  the 
votes  cast  for  and  against  it,  at  such  election,  and  all  money 
raised  by  authority  of  such  law,  shall  be  applied  only  to 
the  specific  object  therein  stated,  or  to  the  payment  of  the 
debt  thereby  created,  and  such  law  shall  be  published  in  at 
least  one  newspaper  in  each  judicial  district,  if  one  is  pub- 


CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA.  225 

lished  therein,  throughout  the  State,  for  three  months 
preceding  the  election,  at  which  it  is  submitted  to  the 
people. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Incorporations. — 1.  No  corporate  body  shall  hereafter 
be  created,  renewed,  or  extended,  with  the  privilege  of 
making,  issuing,  or  putting  into  circulation,  any  bill,  check, 
ticket,  certificate,  promissory  note,  or  other  paper,  or  the 
paper  of  any  bank,  to  circulate  as  money.  The  General 
Assembly  of  this  State  shall  prohibit,  by  law,  any  person 
or  persons,  association,  company,  or  corporation,  from  exer 
cising  the  privileges  of  banking,  or  creating  paper  to  circu 
late  as  money. 

2.  Corporations  shall  not  be  created  in  this  State  by 
special  laws,  except  for  political  or  municipal  purposes:  but 
the  General  Assembly  shall  provide,  by  general  laws,  for 
the  organization  of  all  other  corporations,  except  corpora 
tions  with  banking  privileges,  the  creation  of  which  is  pro 
hibited.  The  stockholders  shall  be  subject  to  suph  liabili- 
ties  and  restrictions  as  shall  be  provided  by  law.  The 
State  shall  not,  directly  or  indirectly,  become  a  stockholder 
in  any  corporation. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

Education  and  School  Land.  —  1.  The  General  As 
sembly  shall  provide  for  the  election,  by  the  people,  of  a 
Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  who  shall  hold  his 
office  for  three  years,  and  whose  duties  shall  be  prescribed 


226  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

by  law,  and  who  shall  receive  such  compensation  as  the 
General  Assembly  may  direct. 

2.  The   General  Assembly  shall  encourage,  by  all  suit 
able  means,  the  promotion  of  intellectual,  scientific,  moral, 
and  agricultural  improvement.     The  proceeds  of  all  lands 
that  have  been,  or  hereafter  may  be  granted  by  the  United 
States  to  this  State,  for  the  support  of  schools,  which  shall 
hereafter  be  sold    or  disposed    of,  and   the    five   hundred 
thousand  acres  of  land   granted  to  the  new  States,  under 
an  act  of  Congress,  distributing  the  proceeds  of  the  public 
lands    among  the  several   States  of  the   "Union,  approved 
A.  D.  1841,  and  all  estates  of  deceased  persons,  who  may 
have  died  without  leaving  a  will  or  heir;  and  also  such 
per  cent,  as  may  be   granted  by  Congress  on  the  sale  of 
lands  in  this  State,  shall  be,  and  remain  a  perpetual  fund, 
the  interest  of  which,  together  with  all  the  rents  of  the 
unsold  lands,  and  such  other  means   as   the   General  As 
sembly  may  provide,  shall  be  inviolably  appropriated  to 
the  support  of  common  schools  throughout  the  State. 

3.  The  General  Assembly  shall  provide  for  a  system  of 
common  schools,  by  which  a  school  shall  be  kept  up,  and 
supported,  in  each  school  district,  at  least  three  months  in 
every  year  ]  and  any  school  district  neglecting  to  keep  up, 
and  support  such  a  school,  may  be  deprived  of  its  propor 
tion  of  the  interest  of  the  public  fund  during  such  neglect. 

4.  The  money  which   shall  be  paid  by  persons  as  an 
equivalent  for  exemption  from  military  duty,  and  the  clear 
proceeds  of  all  fines  collected  in  the  several  counties  for 
any  breach  of  the  penal  laws,  shall  be  exclusively  applied, 


CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA.  227 

in  the  several  counties  in  which  such  money  is  paid,  or 
fine  collected,  among  the  several  school  districts  of  said 
counties,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  inhabitants  in 
such  districts,  to  the  support  of  common  schools,  or  the 
establishment  of  libraries,  as  the  General  Assembly  shall, 
from  time  to  time,  provide  by  law. 

5.  The  General  Assembly  shall  take  measures  for  the 
protection,  improvement,  or  other  disposition  of  such  lands 
as  have  been,  or  may  hereafter  be  reserved  or  granted  by 
the  United  States,  or  any  person  or  persons,  to  the  State 
for  the  use  of  a  University;  and  the  funds  accruing  from 
the  rents  or  sale  of  such  lands,  or  from  any  other  source, 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  shall  be,  and  remain  a  perma 
nent  fund,  the  interest  of  which  Jiall  be  applied  to  the 
support  of  said  University,  with  such  branches  as  the  pub 
lic  convenience  may  hereafter  demand  for  the  promotion  of 
literature,  the  arts  and  sciences,  as  may  be  authorized  by 
the  terms  of  such  grant.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
General  Assembly,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  provide  effectual 
means  for  the  improvement  and  permanent  security  of  the 
funds  of  said  University. 

ARTICLE  X. 

Amendments  of  the  Constitution.  —  1.  If  at  any  time 
the  General  Assembly  shall  think  it  necessary  to  revise  or 
amend  this  Constitution,  they  shall  provide  by  law  for  a 
vote  of  the  people  for  or  against  a  Convention,  at  the  next 
ensuing  election  for  members  of  the  General  Assembly :  in 
case  a  majority  of  the  people  vote  in  favor  of  a  Convention, 


228  CONSTITUTION     OP    IOWA. 

said  General  Assembly  shall  provide  for  an  election  of 
Delegates  to  a  Convention,  to  be  held  within  six  months 
after  the  vote  of  the  people  in  favor  thereof. 

ARTICLE  XL 

Miscellaneous.  —  1.  The  jurisdiction  of  Justices  of  thi} 
Peace  shall  extend  to  all  civil  cases,  (except  cases  in  Chan 
cery,  and  cases  where  the  question  of  title  to  any  real 
estate  may  arise,)  where  the  amount  in  controversy  does 
not  exceed  one  hundred  dollars,  and  by  the  consent  of 
parties  may  be  extended  to  any  amount  not  exceeding  five 
hundred  dollars. 

2.  No  new  county  shall  be  laid  off  hereafter,  nor  old 
county  reduced,  to  less  contents  than  four  hundred  and 
thirty-two  square  miles. 

3.  The  General  Assembly  shall  not  locate  any  of  the 
public  lands,  which  have  been,  or  may  be  granted  by  Con 
gress  to  this  State ;  and  the  location  of  which  may  be  given 
to  the    General   Assembly,   upon    lands   actually  settled, 
without  the  consent  of  the  occupant.     The  extent  of  the 
claim  of  such  occupant,  so  exempted,  shall  not  exceed 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

Schedule.  —  1.  That  no  inconvenience  may  arise  from 
the  change  of  a  Territorial  government  to  a  permanent 
State  Government,  it  is  declared  that  all  writs,  actions, 
prosecutions,  contracts,  claims  and  rights,  shall  continue  as 
if  no  change  had  taken  place  in  this  government;  and  all 
process  which  may,  before  the  organization  of  the  judicial 


CONSTITUTION    OP    IOWA.  229 

department  under  this  Constitution,  be  issued  under  the 
authority  of  the  Territory  of  Iowa,  shall  be  as  valid  as  if 
issued  in  the  name  of  the  State. 

2.  All  the  laws  now  in  force  in  this  Territory,  which  are 
not  repugnant  to  this  Constitution,  shall  remain  in  force 
until  they  expire  by  their  own  limitations,  or  be  altered  or 
repealed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State. 

3.  All  fines,  penalties,  and  forfeitures,  accruing  to  the 
Territory  of  Iowa,  shall  accrue  to  the  use  of  the  State. 

4.  All  recognizances  heretofore   taken,   or  which   may 
hereafter  be  taken,  before  the  organization  of  the  judicial 
department  under  this    Constitution,   shall  remain  valid, 
and  shall  pass  to,  and  may  be  prosecuted  in  the  name  of 
the  State.     And  all  bonds  executed  to  the  Governor  of 
this  Territory,  or  to  any  other  officer  in  his  official  capacity, 
shall  pass  over  to  the  Governor  of  this  State,  or  other  pro 
per  State  authority,  and  to  their  successors  in  office,  for 
the  uses  therein  respectively  expressed,  and  may  be  sued 
for,  and  recovered  accordingly.     All  criminal  prosecutions 
and  penal  actions,  which  have  arisen,  or  may  arise,  before 
the  organization  of  the  judicial  department,  under  this  Con 
stitution,  and  which  shall  then  be  pending,  may  be  prose 
cuted  to  judgment  and  execution  in  the  name  of  the  State. 

5.  All  officers,  civil  and  military,  now  holding  their  offices 
and  appointments  in  this  Territory,  under  the  authority  of 
the  United  States,  or  under  the  authority  of  this  Territory, 
shall  continue  to  hold  and  execute  their  respective  offices 
and  appointments  until  superseded  under  this  Constitution. 

6.  The  first  general  election   under  this  Constitution, 

20 


230  CONSTITUTION    OP    IOWA. 

shall  be  held  at  such  time  as  the  Governor  of  the  Terri 
tory,  by  proclamation,  may  appoint,  within  three  months 
after  its  adoption,  for  the  election  of  a  Governor,  two 
Representatives  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
(unless  Congress  shall  provide  for  the  election  of  one 
Representative),  members  of  the  General  Assembly,  and 
one  Auditor,  Treasurer,  and  Secretary  of  State.  Said 
election  shall  be  conducted  in  accordance  with  the  existing 
election  laws  of  this  Territory,  and  said  Governor,  Repre 
sentatives  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  Auditor, 
Treasurer,  and  Secretary  of  State,  duly  elected  at  said 
election,  shall  continue  to  discharge  the  duties  of  their 
respective  offices  for  the  time  prescribed  by  this  Constitu 
tion,  and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 
The  returns  of  said  election  shall  be  made  in  conformity  to 
the  existing  laws  of  this  Territory. 

7.  Until  the  first  enumeration  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
State,  as  directed  by  this  Constitution,  the  following  shall 
be  the  appointment  of  the  General  Assembly: 

The  County  of  Lee  shall  be  entitled  to  two  Senators, 
and  five  Representatives ;  the  County  of  Van  Buren,  two 
Senators,  and  four  Representatives ;  the  Counties  of  Davis 
and  Appanoose,  one  Senator,  and  one  Representative, 
jointly;  the  Counties  of  Wapello  and  Monroe,  one  Sena 
tor,  jointly,  and  one  Representative,  each;  the  Counties  of 
Marion,  Polk,  Dallas,  and  Jasper,  one  Senator,  and  two  Re 
presentatives,  jointly;  the  County  of  Des  Moines,  two  Sena 
tors,  and  four  Representatives;  the  County  of  Jefferson,  one 
Senator,  and  three  Representatives ;  the  County  of  Henry, 
one  Senator,  and  three  Representatives ;  the  Counties  of 


CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA.  231 

Louisa  and  Washington,  one  Senator,  jointly,  and  one 
Representive,  each ;  the  Counties  of  Keokuk  and  Mahaska, 
one  Senator,  jointly,  and  one  Representative,  each ;  the 
Counties  of  Muscatine,  Johnson,  and  Iowa,  one  Senator, 
and  one  Representative,  jointly;  Muscatine,  one  Represen 
tative,  and  Johnson  and  Iowa,  one  Representative,  jointly; 
the  Counties  of  Scott  and  Clinton,  one  Senator,  jointly, 
and  one  Representative,  each;  the  Counties  of  Cedar, 
Linn,  and  Benton,  one  Senator,  jointly;  the  County  of 
Cedar,  one  Representative,  and  the  Counties  of  Linn  and 
Benton,  one  Representative,  jointly;  the  Counties  of  Jack 
son,  and  Jones,  one  Senator,  and  two  Representatives ;  the 
Counties  of  Dubuque.  Delaware,  Clayton,  Fayette,  Bu 
chanan,  and  Black  Hawk,  two  Senators,  and  two  Repre 
sentatives,  jointly;  and  any  county  attached  to  any  county 
for  judicial  purposes,  shall,  unless  otherwise  provided  for, 
be  considered  as  forming  part  of  such  county  for  election 
purposes. 

8.  The  first  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly,  under 
this  Constitution,  shall  be  at  such  time  as  the  Governor  of 
the  Territory  may,  by  proclamation,  appoint,  within  four 
months  after  its  ratification  by  the  people,  at  Iowa  City,  in 
Johnson  County,  which  place  shall  be  the  seat  of  Govern- 
•ment  of  the  State  of  Iowa,  until  removed  by  law. 

Done  in  Convention,  at  Iowa  City,  this  18th  day  of 
May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  forty-six,  and  of  the  Independence  of 
the  United  States  the  seventieth. 


232  CONSTITUTION    OF    IOWA. 

In  Testimony  Whereof,  We  have  hereunto  subscribed 
our  names :  ENOS  LOWE,  President. 

Attest,  WM.  THOMPSON,  Sec. 

Thomas  Dibble,  Erastus  Hoskin,  David  Galland,  Suli- 
fand  S.  Koss,  Shepherd  Leffler,  Curtis  Bates,  Wm.  G. 
Coop,  John  Ronalds,  Samuel  A.  Bissell,  Socrates  IT. 
Tryon,  Wareham  G.  Clark,  William  Hubbel,  John  J. 
Selman,  George  Berry,  John  Conrey,  Josiah  Kent,  Joseph 
H.  Hedrick,  Sylvester  G.  Matson,  S.  B.  Shelledy,  James 
Grant,  George  Hobson,  H.  P.  Haun,  Stewart  Goodrell, 
Sanford  Harned,  David  Olrnstead,  G.  W.  Bowie,  Alvin 
Saunders,  William  Steele,  T.  McCraney,  F.  K.  O'Ferrall, 
J.  Scott  Richman. 

ORDINANCE. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  Convention  assembled  to  form  a 
Constitution  for  the  State  of  Iowa,  in  behalf  of  the  people 
of  said  State,  that  the  following  propositions  shall  be  made 
to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  which,  if  assented 
to  by  that  body,  shall  be  obligatory  on  this  State. 

1.  Section  number  sixteen  in  every  surveyed  township 
of  public  lands,  and  where  such  section  has  been  disposed 
of,  other  lands,  equivalent  thereto,  and  as  contiguous  aa 
may  be,  shall  be  granted  to  the  State  for  the  use  of  Com 
mon  Schools. 

2.  Seventy-two  sections  of  land  set  apart  and  reserved 
for  the  use  and  support  of  a  University,  by  an  act  of  Con 
gress  approved   on   the  twentieth  of  July,   one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  forty,  entitled  "  An  act  granting  two 


CONSTITUTION    OP    IOWA.  238 

townships  of  land  for  the  use  of  a  University  in  the  Ter 
ritory  of  Iowa,"  shall  be  applied  solely  for  the  use  and 
support  of  such  University,  in  such  manner  as  the  General 
Assembly  may  direct. 

3.  That  one  quarter  section  of  land  in  each  township 
be  granted  to  the  State  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  a 
Common  School  library  for  the  use  of  such  township. 

4.  That  five  per  cent,  of  the  nett  proceeds  of  the  sales 
of  all  public  lands  lying  within  this  State,  which  shall  be 
sold  by  Congress  after  the  admission  of  the  State  into  the 
Union,  shall  be  granted  to  the  State,  for  the  use  of  Com 
mon  Schools. 

That,  in  consideration  of  the  grants  specified  in  the  four 
foregoing  propositions,  it  is  declared,  that  this  State  will 
never  interfere  with  the  primary  disposal  of  the  soil  within 
the  same,  by  the  United  States,  nor  with  any  regulations 
Congress  may  find  necessary,  for  securing  the  title  in  such 
soil  to  the  bona  fide  purchaser  thereof;  and  that  no  tax 
shall  be  imposed  on  lands,  the  property  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  in  no  case  shall  non-resident  proprietors 
be  taxed  higher  than  resident. 
20* 


234  STATE    OFFICERS,    ETC. 


CHAPTEE   XXY. 

STATE   OFFICERS   AND   CONGRESSMEN,    FROM   THE  ADMIS 
SION   INTO    THE    UNION    TO    THE   PRESENT    TIME. 


GOVERNOR. — Term,  4  Years. 

Beginnmg  of  Term. 

1.  Ansel  Briggs November  30,  1840. 

2.  Stephen    Henipstead December    2,1850. 

3.  James  W.  Grimes "  3,1854. 

SECRETARY  or  STATE. — Term,  2  Tears. 

1.  Elisha  Cutler,  Jr November  30,  1846. 

2.  Josiah  H.  Bonney December    2,  1848. 

3.  George  W.  McCleary  (3  terms,) «  2,  1850. 

AUDITOR  or  STATE. — Term,  2  Years. 

1.  Joseph  T.  Fales  (2  terms,) November  30,  184G. 

2.  William  Pattee  (2  terms,) December    2,  1850. 

3.  A.  J.  Stevens "  3,  1854. 

TREASURER  OF  STATE. — Term,  2  Years. 

1.  Morgan  Reno  (2  terms,) November  30,  1840. 

2.  Israel  Kister  December    2,  1850. 

3.  M.  L.  Morris  (2  terms,) "  2,  1852. 

SUPERINTENDENT  OP  PUBLIC  INSTRUCTION. — Term,  3  Years. 

Elected. 

1.  James  Harlan,  (election  declared  illegal,) April,  1847. 

2.  Thomas  H.  Benton,  Jr.,  (2  terms,) "      1848. 

3.  James  D.  Eads "      1854. 


STATE    OFFICERS,    ETC.  285 

BOARD  OF  PUBLIC  WORKS. — Term,  2  Years. 

Elected. 

1.  HughW.  Sample,  President, August  2,  1847. 

1.  Charles  Corkery,  Secretary, "         " 

1.  Paul  Bratton,  Treasurer,  "         " 

2.  William  Patterson,  President, "     6,  1849. 

2.  Jesse  Williams,  Secretary, "         " 

3.  George  Gillaspy,  Treasurer, "         " 

The  second  Board  was  legislated  out  of  office  on  the  1st  of 

February,  1851. 

COMMISSIONER  AND  KEGISTER  OF  THE  DBS  MOINES  RIVER 
IMPROVEMENT. — Term,  2  Years. 

1.  V.  P.  Antwerp,  Commissioner,  ...  appointed  from  Feb.  1,  1853. 

2.  Josiah  H.  Bonney,         "  elected,  April  4,  1853. 

1.  George  Gillaspy,  Register, appointed,  February  1,  1851. 

2.  Paul  Jeffers,  "         "  "  1852. 

3.  George  Gillaspy,      "         elected,  April  4,  1853. 

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. — Term,  2  Years. 

1.  D.  C.  Cloud August  1,  1853. 

2.  «  August  7,  1854. 

THE  EXECUTIVE,  IN  1855. 
JAMES  W.  GRIMES,  of  Burlington,  Governor. 
George  W.  McCleary,  Iowa  City,  Secretary  of  State. 
A.  J.  Stevens,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Auditor. 
M.  L.  Morris,  Iowa  City,  Treasurer. 

James  D.  Fads,  Iowa  City,  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 
D.  C.  Cloud,  Muscatine,  Attorney-General. 

Wm.  McKay,  Commissioner  of  the  Des  Moines  River  Improvement. 
John  C.  Lockwood,  Register  of  the  Des  Moines  River  Improvement. 
Anson  Hart,  Register  of  the  Land  Office. 

THE  LEGISLATURE. 

Maturin  L.  Fisher,  President  of  the  Senate. 
Reuben  Noble,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 


236  STATE    OFFICERS,    ETC. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DELEGATION. 

George  W.  Jones,  of  Dubuque,  Senator, Term  expires,  1859. 

James  Harlan,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,     "        "         "          1861. 

Augustus  Hall,  of  Keosauqun,  Representative. 
James  Thorington,  of  Davenport,         " 

THE  JUDICIARY 
Supreme  Court. 

George  G.  Wright,  Keosauqua,  Chief  Justice. 
W.  G.  Woodward,  Muscatine,  Associate  Justice. 
N.  W.  Isbell,  Marion,  «  " 

George  S.  Hampton,  Iowa  City,  Clerk. 

District  Court  for  Iowa. 
J.  J.  Dyer,  of  Dubuque,  Judge. 
J.  C.  Knapp,  of  Keosauqua,  District  Attorney. 
Laurel  Summers,  of  Le  Claire,  Marshal. 
Warner  Lewis,  of  Dubuque,  Surveyor- General. 

Note. — The  election  for  Governor,  State  Officers,  and  Board  of 
Public  Works  is  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  August.  The  term 
of  service  of  the  Governor  and  State  Officers  commences  on  the- 
first  Monday  in  December  following  the  election. 


Times  of  Holding  Elections. 

1.  General  Election  —  Is  held  1st  Monday  in  August, 
every  two  years.  Time  of  holding  next  General  Election 
'will  be  August,  1856.  Officers  elected  :  A  Governor,  once 
in  four  years;  a  State  Senator,  once  in  four  years;  a  Secre 
tary,  Treasurer,  and  Auditor  of  State,  Prosecuting  Attorney, 
Clerk  of  the  District  Court,  Representatives  to  the  General 
Assembly,  and  Representatives  to  Congress,  every  two 
years. 


STATE    OFFICERS,    ETC.  237 

2.  August  Election  —  Is   held   1st  Monday  in  August, 
every  two  years,  alternate  with  the  years  of  the  General 
Election.     Officers  elected  :    County  Judge,  once  in  four 
years ;  Sheriff,  Coroner,  Recorder,  and  Surveyor,  every  two 
years. 

3.  Ap*il  Election  —  Is  held  annually,  1st  Monday  in 
April.     Officers  elected  :    Judge  of  District  Court,  once  in 
five  years ;   Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  once  in 
three  years;  School  Fund  Commissioner,  once  in  two  years; 
three  Township  Trustees,  a  Clerk,  two  Constables,  and  an 
Assessor,  every  year ;  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  (or  as  many 
as  the  Trustees  of  each  township  may  direct,)  every  two 
years  (one  being  elected  each  year). 

4.  Presidential  Election  —  Is  holden  1st  Tuesday  after 
the  1st  Monday  in  November,  1856,  and  every  four  years 
thereafter,  for  the  election  of  Electors  of  President  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States,  the  number  of  whom  is  equal 
to  the  number  of  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress 
to  which  this  State  may  be  entitled. 

5.  City  Elections  —  Held  at  such  times  as  fixed  by  the 
charter,  or  as  regulated  by  ordinance ;  electing  Mayor,  Mar 
shal,  Clerk,  Treasurer,  and  Aldermen. 


238  POLICY    OF    GOVERNMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

POLICY    OF    GOVERNMENT. 

Ex-GovERNOR  HEMPSTEAD,  in  his  Message  to  the  Legis 
lature  last  winter,  remarked  : 

"  In  concluding  this  communication  to  the  General  As 
sembly  of  Iowa,  I  may  be  permitted  to  refer  to  the  policy 
of  government,  under  which  we  have  increased  in  population 
and  wealth,  unsurpassed  in  the  history  and  settlement  of 
Western  States;  and,  it  must  be  conceded,  that  for  the 
high  position  which  we  now  occupy,  as  a  sovereign  State 
of  the  American  Republic,  we  are  principally  indebted  to 
the  Constitution  and  laws  for  that  prosperity. 

"  Of  the  Constitution  of  this  State,  it  may  with  justice 
be  said  that  it  is  republican  in  its  character,  and  designed 
to  protect  the  people  against  abuses  and  evils  which  have 
crept  into  the  government  of  other  and  elder  States.  It 
prohibits  any  association  or  corporation  from  exercising  the 
privilege  of  creating  paper  to  circulate  as  money.  It  de 
clares  that  corporations  shall  not  be  established  by  special 
1  laws,  except  for  political  or  municipal  purposes ;  and  for  all 
others,  that  general  laws  shall  be  passed  for  their  organiza 
tion,  reserving  to  every  one  the  privilege  of  forming  com 
panies  for  the  transaction  of  all  lawful  business,  and  limit 
ing  State  indebtedness  in  such  a  manner  as  to  prevent  great 


POLICY    OP    GOVERNMENT.  239 

loss  or  repudiation.  These  restrictions,  it  is  believed,  have 
done  much  to  build  up  this  State,  and  to  assure  citizens  that 
they  are  not  to  be  oppressed  by  monopolies,  bankruptcy,  or 
extraordinary  taxation/' 

The  stand  Iowa  has  taken  on  the  subject  of  Slavery,  may 
be  inferred  from  the  following  extract  from  Gov.  GRIMES'S 
Inaugural  Address  last  session : 

w  The  removal  of  that  great  landmark  of  freedom,  the 
Missouri  Compromise  line,  when  it  had  been  sacredly  ob 
served  until  slavery  had  acquired  every  inch  of  soil  south 
of  it,  has  presented  the  aggressive  character  of  that  system 
broadly  before  the  country.  It  has  shown  that  all  compro 
mises  with  slavery,  that  were  designed  to  favor  freedom,  are 
mere  ropes  of  sand,  to  be  broken  by  the  first  wave  of  pas 
sion  or  interest  that  may  roll  from  the  South. 

"  It  has  forced  upon  the  country  an  issue  between  free 
labor,  political  equality,  and  manhood  on  the  one  hand; 
and,  on  the  other,  slave  labor,  political  degradation,  and 
wrong.  It  becomes  the  people  of  the  free  States  to  meet 
that  issue  resolutely,  calmly,  and  with  a  sense  of  the  mo 
mentous  consequences  that  will  flow  from  its  decision.  To 
every  elector,  in  view  of  that  issue,  might  appropriately  be 
applied  the  injunction  anciently  addressed  to  the  Jewish 
King :  '  Be  strong,  and  show  thyself  a  man/ 

"  It  becomes  the  State  of  Iowa,  —  the  only  free  child  of 
the  Missouri  Compromise, — to  let  the  world  know  that  she 
values  the  blessings  that  compromise  has  secured  to  her, 
and  that  she  will  never  consent  to  become  a  party  to  the 
nationalization  of  slavery." 


240 


POLICY    OF    GOVERNMENT. 


The  following  returns  (as  far  as  heard  from  up  to  the 
date  we  write,)  will  exhibit  the  present  politics  of  Iowa : 

April  Election. 


Counties. 

K.  N. 

327 
419 
108 
346 
45 
464 
152 
266 
400 
352 
337 
323 

874 
181 

50 
277 
313 
29 

504 
178 
231 
28 
145 
95 
79 
73 

Anti- 
K.  N. 

660 
171 

22 

19 

32 

285 

Prohibitory  Law. 

For. 

Against. 

644 
498 
392 
630 
206 
363 

399 
448 

788 

250 
339 
230 

66 
175 

130 

285 
37 

57 
112 

9 

88 
100 

300 
724 

225 
315 

210 
136  . 

35 

8 

143 
446 

Muscatine                 

Cedar                   

Jackson  

Clayton*           

Divis                          

Johnson  

Henry       

Jones*        

Wapollo  

Warren             

Black  Hawk  

Powasheik  

Tama              

Marion  

Majority  so  far  for  K.  N.  State 
"           "         "    Prohibitory. 

6396 
ricket 

jaw 

1189 

6049 

2739 
5207. 
3310. 

*  Those  counties  marked  with  an  asterisk  are  reported,  the 
remainder  are  official. 


EDUCATION.  241 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

EDUCATION. 

School  System. — A  very  liberal  provision  is  made  for 
the  permanent  support  of  common  and  academic  institutions 
in  this  State.  By  an  act  of  Congress,  500,000  acres  of 
land  have  been  set  apart  for  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of 
education.  Some  of  these  lands  have  been  sold,  and  the 
proceeds  safely  invested  for  the  benefit  of  schools.  Much, 
however,  remains  still  in  the  market,  and  will  be  disposed 
of  as  the  wants  and  interests  of  these  nurseries  of  knowledge 
demand. 

There  is  to-day  about  one  million  of  dollars  in  the  hands 
of  the  School  Fund  Commissioners,  within  the  State,  which 
is  loaned  at  ten  per  cent.,  yieldiDg  an  income  of  nearly  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  amount,  distributed  among 
the  schools  of  the  Commonwealth,  places  them  upon  a  foot 
ing  not  surpassed  by  any  new  State  in  the  north-west. 

State  University  of  Iowa. 

This  institution  opened  in  some  of  its  departments  re 
cently.  It  has  been  permanently  located  at  Iowa  City,t 
the  site  of  the  Capitol,  and  is  to  have  the  use  of  the 
public  buildings,  together  with  ten  acres  of  land,  on  which 
the  same  are  situated.  Two  townships  of  land,  granted  by 
act  of  Congress,  July  20th,  1840,  for  the  support  of  a  uni- 
21 


242  EDUCATION. 

versity,  have  been  donated  by  the  State  to  this  institution, 
and  constitute  a  permanent  and  munificent  fund;  upon 
whose  interest  to  lean  for  support. 

Branches  of  tlie  State  University. 

The  Medical  Department  of  the  State  University,  is  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  located  at  Keokuk,  in 
Lee  County.  The  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc 
tion  says :  "  The  best  interests  of  the  State  University  de 
mand  that  the  law  making  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  the  medical  department  of  the  State  University  of 
Iowa,  should  be  repealed,  and  that  the  entire  University 
Fund  be  concentrated  upon  one  object,  and  the  building  up 
of  one  institution,  and  not  have  it  squandered  by  dividing 
it  on  different  schools  in  various  parts  of  the  State,  as  by 
such  means  we  will  not  be  able  to  sustain  a  respectable  in 
stitution  in  the  State.  One  institution  of  learning,  well 
sustained,  is  of  more  advantage  to  the  people  at  large,  than 
twenty  only  in  name,  as  many  of  our  colleges  are  in  this 
State.  One  university,  with  an  able  corps  of  professors, 
and  properly  managed,  will  be  sufficient  for  the  accommo 
dation  of  all  the  students  who  will  attend  a  State  University, 
and  besides  that,  will  be  a  credit  to  the  State." 

Branch  at  Fairjield. — One  branch  of  the  State  Univer 
sity  is  established  at  Fairfield,  Jefferson  County,  and  is  put 
upon  the  same  footing  with  respect  to  funds  and  other  de 
tails,  as  the  present  Seminary. 

Branch  at  Dubuque. — Another  branch  of  the  State  Uni 
versity  is  to  be  established  at  Dubuque.  The  trustees  have 


EDUCATION.  243 

been  appointed,  the  site  selected,  and  most  of  the  measures 
necessary  to  the  enterprise  taken. 

Normal  Schools. — The  State  is  divided  into  three  dis 
tricts,  in  each  of  which  there  was  to  be  established  a  Nor 
mal  School,  for  the  education  of  teachers  for  our  common 
schools.  The  law  establishing  these  schools,  located  them 
at  Oskaloosa,  Mount  Pleasant,  and  Andrew. 

District  Schools.— Of  these,  Jas.  D.  Eads,  Esq.,  late 
State  Superintendent,  says  :  "  In  many  of  the  older  coun 
ties  that  I  have  travelled  through,  the  citizens  have  gone  to 
work  with  a  liberal  and  praiseworthy  spirit,  in  erecting  large 
and  commodious  buildings  for  educational  purposes.  The 
city  of  Keokuk  takes  the  lead  in  having  the  finest  building 
in  the  State,  in  the  erection  of  which  the  citizens  have  ex 
pended  nearly  ten  thousand  dollars ;  and  with  a  liberal  spi 
rit,  they  pay  the  Superintendent  of  the  school  eight  hun 
dred  dollars  per  annum. 

"Fort  Madison,  Burlington,  Muscatine,  Davenport,  Ly 
ons,  Anamosa,  Colesburgh,  Marion,  Rochester,  Tipton, 
Denmark,  Primrose,  West  Point,  Centreville,  Oskaloosa, 
Cedar  Falls,  and  many  other  towns,  have  erected  buildings 
which  will  stand  as  lasting  monuments  of  the  liberality  of 
those  engaged  in  so  glorious  an  enterprise,  and  an  honour  to 
our  young  State. 

"  Iowa,  young  as  she  is,  already  commands  a  prominent 
position,  not  only  in  reference  to  the  magnitude  of  her 
School  Fund,  but  in  the  progress  she  has  made  in  the  orga 
nization  of  her  districts,  and  the  general  establishment  of 
free  schools. 


244  EDUCATION. 

"According  to  the  returns  of  the  County  Commissioners, 
there  are  twenty-three  hundred  and  fifty-five  organized 
school  districts  in  Iowa,  and  over  one  hundred  and  eleven 
thousand  children  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one 
years.  When  we  consider,  in  connection  with  these  facts, 
that  our  population  is  increasing  with  a  rapidity  almost  un 
paralleled  in  the  history  of  any  country,  and  that  in  a  very 
few  years  we  shall  equal  in  numbers  the  most  populous  of 
the  Eastern  States,  it  becomes  apparent  that  we  cannot  be 
too  active  and  vigilant  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  education 
of  the  youth  of  our  State,  who  are  so  soon  to  control  the 
destiny  of  a  great  Commonwealth. 

({ While  we  congratulate  ourselves  upon  the  possession 
of  so  magnificent  a  school  fund,  as  has  been  secured  to  us 
by  the  action  of  the  General  Government,  and  our  State 
Legislature,  we  must  not  forget  that  much  remains  to  be 
done  on  the  part  of  the  people  themselves,  before  we  shall 
fully  enjoy  the  advantages  of  a  universal  system  of  free 
schools,  of  a  character  commensurate  with  the  object  of  their 
organization,  viz. :  to  give  to  every  son  and  daughter  of 
Iowa  a  thorough  knowledge  of  all  the  essential  elements  of 
a  good  practical  education. 

"I  have  had  the  pleasure,  during  the  past  season,  of 
visiting  a  large  number  of  union  or  graded  schools,  in  the 
larger  towns  of  the  State,  and  have  been  very  highly  grati 
fied  in  witnessing  the  many  advantages  they  possess,  when 
properly  conducted,  over  those  schools  which  maintain 
separate  organizations. 

"As  appears  from  the  returns  of  the  County  Commis- 


EDUCATION.  245 

sioners,  the  average  sum  paid  to  the  district  school  teacher 
is  less  than  twenty  dollars  to  the  male,  and  less  than  ten 
dollars  per  month  to  female  teachers." 

In  all  the  thickly  settled  counties,  common  schools  are 
convenient,  and  should  the  tide  of  immigration  continue  to 
flow  as  it  has  done,  in  five  years  not  one  county  in  ten  will 
be  destitute  of  the  facilities  for  a  sound  education.  The 
number  and  condition  of  public  schools  are  given  more  par 
ticularly  in  the  sketches  of  the  counties,  in  another  portion 
of  this  work. 

Blind  Asylum. — An  institution  for  the  instruction  of  tho 
blind  was  organized  and  put  into  operation  in  Iowa  City,  in 
the  spring  of  1853.  It  has  been  impossible,  thus  far,  to 
procure  suitable  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  those 
wishing  to  attend,  and  an  appropriation  of  $6000  has  been 
made  for  the  erection  of  appropriate  buildings.  The  num 
ber  of  pupils  at  present  in  attendance  is  twenty-three. 

Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum. — An  institution  for  the  in 
struction  of  the  deaf  and  dumb,  has  recently  been  opened 
in  Iowa  City,  which  bids  fair  to  do  great  service,  even  the 
present  year,  in  extending  to  this  unfortunate  class,  the 
light  and  knowledge  which,  but  for  education,  they  must  be 
deprived  of. 

Academies  and  Colleges. — This  State  is  well  supplied 
with  acadamies  and  colleges,  some  of  which  will  compare 
favorably  with  those  in  the  Atlantic  States,  while  all  reflect 
credit  upon  the  patriotism  and  enterprise  of  the  Hawkeye 
State.  We  give  herein  a  sketch  of  the  condition  of  those 
21* 


246  EDUCATION. 

of  the  principal  schools  of  this  class,  concerning  which  we 
have  been  able  to  gain  satisfactory  data : — 

The  Burlington  University. — This  is  a  literary  institu 
tion  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  located  at  Burlington,  in 
i  April,  1852.  The  college  edifice  was  erected  in  1853-4, 
and  dedicated  on  the  4th  of  July,  1854.  This  building  is  44 
by  65  feet,  three  stories  high,  and  its  style  of  architecture 
and  economic  arrangement  reflect  great  credit  upon  its  found 
ers  and  architects.  The  first  annual  catalogue  of  the  in 
stitution  was  issued  on  the  first  of  January,  1855,  which 
reports  167  pupils,  and  a  faculty  of  eight  different  teachers, 
•with  Geo.  W.  Gunnison,  A.  M.,  as  principal.  The  school 
is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The  institution  possesses 
available  property  to  the  amount  of  $20,000,  and  is  nearly 
free  from  debt,  besides  $5000  secured  and  drawing  interest, 
as  the  commencement  towards  a  fund  for  enlarging  their 
buildings.  The  plan  of  the  institution  provides  for  prepa 
ratory  and  collegiate  departments,  with  courses  of  study  for 
gentlemen  and  ladies.  The  gentlemen's  course  embraces  7 
years — 3  preparatory,  and  4  collegiate;  the  ladies'  5  years 
— 1  primary,  and  4  advanced.  Those  desiring  further  in 
formation  of  the  institution,  may  address  the  Principal,  at 
Burlington,  or  Rev.  Jas.  A.  Nash,  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  at  Ft.  Des  Moines. 

Davenport  Female  University. 

Female  Eclectic  Institute. — This  institution,  still  in 
the  first  year  of  its  history,  is  the  only  female  seminary 
in  the  United  States  which,  in  the  character  and  extent 


• 


EDUCATION.  247 

of  its  instruction,  is  founded  upon  the  broad  basis  of  a 
university. 

By  the  scheme  of  its  organization,  provision  is  made  for 
1st,  Twelve  professorships  in  the  sciences  and  letters,  viz : 
'one  each  in  Mathematical  Sciences,  Experimental  Sciences, 
Natural  Sciences,  Ancient  Languages,  Modern  Languages, 
English  Language  and  Literature,  Historical  and  Political 
Sciences,  Logical  and  ^Esthetical  Sciences,  Moral  and  Men 
tal  Sciences,  Yocal  and  Instrumental  Music,  Drawing  and 
Painting,  Chirography  and  Book-Keeping. 

2d.  Two  professorships  upon  the  professions  of  the  sex, 
viz :  one  upon  the  Principles  of  Study  in  general  and  in 
particular ;  one  upon  the  Principles  of  Teaching  in  general 
and  in  particular. 

3d.  One  professorship  upon  Conversation  and  the  Pro 
prieties. 

4th.  One  professorship  upon  the  Trades  taught  in  the 
University. 

5th.  One  professorship  upon  Domestic  Economy  and 
Domestic  Duties. 

By  the  scheme  of  its  organization  provision  is  also  made 
for  granting  eighteen  species  of  diploma. 

We  cannot  better  exhibit  the  leading  features  of  the  Da 
venport  Female  University,  than  by  an  extract  from  a  letter 
addressed  by  the  talented  and  accomplished  principal,  Mrs. 
Caroline  P.  Lindsley,  A.  M.,  to  the  editor  of  the  "  Rock 
Islander."  In  her  communication  she  states  that  the  Uni 
versity  "  is  designed  to  supply  not  only  the  great  wants  in 
the  female  educational  systems  of  the  times,  but  the  wants 


248  EDUCATION. 

of  divers  classes  of  our  countrywomen,  the  wealthy  as  well 
as  the  indigent,  genius  as  well  as  mediocrity.  To  this  end 
it  will  furnish  an  extensive  and  thorough  training : 

"  1st.  For  those  who  aim  chiefly  at  distinction  in  the 
field  of  science  and  letters ; 

<l  2d.  For  those  who  aim  chiefly  at  distinction  in  the  pro 
fessions  permitted  to  woman ; 

"3d.  For  those  who  aim  chiefly  at  distinction  in  the 
trades  taught  in  the  institution  ] 

"  4th.  For  those  who  aim  chiefly  at  superior  knowledge 
of  the  duties  of  domestic  life ; 

"5th.  For  those  who  aim  at  commendable  eminence  in 
each  of  these  general  divisions  of  female  effort  and 
enterprise." 

Three  departments  of  the  University  are  already  opened^ 
and  if  demanded  by  the  proficiency  of  applicants,  eight  will 
admit  pupils  by  the  first  Wednesday  of  September  next, 
the  commencement  of  the  collegiate  year. 

The  character  and  extent  of  the  instructions,  unap- 
proached  as  they  are  by  any  female  institute  in  the  country, 
do  not  constitute,  however,  the  only  evidence  of  superiority. 
The  University,  while  it  takes  the  title  of  a  great  school  of 
industry  and  learning,  does  not  overlook  the  interests  of 
those  who  have  claims  upon  its  beneficence.  Accordingly 
it  opens  its  halls,  with  scarcely  the  shadow  of  tribute,  to 
those  who  seek  its  groves,  to  lessen  the  expenses  of  instruc 
tion  by  the  pursuit  of  some  trade,  or  to  enjoy  its  advantages 
at  reduced  consideration.  Hence — 

1.  Employment  at  the  trades  taught  in  the  University  is 


EDUCATION.  249 

invariably  given  at  living  rates  to  young  ladies  who  may 
desire  to  support  themselves,  in  part  at  least,  while  prose 
cuting  their  studies. 

2.  The  daughters  of  the  clergy,  without  regard  to  faith, 
are  entitled  to  tuition  at  half  the  established  prices,  and, 
upon  the  opening  of  the  fall  term,  will  receive  their  tui 
tion  free,  in  every  branch  except  painting  and  instrumental 
music,  provided  they  board  with  the  Principal. 

Iowa  Female  Collegiate  Institute,  at  Iowa  City^  under  the 
auspices  of  the  I.  0.  of  0.  F. 

"Articles  of  incorporation  were  adopted  and  recorded  on 
the  29th  of  July,  1853,  which  place  the  institution  under 
the  particular  auspices  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  of  Iowa,  and  secures  in  the  instruction  and  govern 
ment  of  the  school  the  same  broad  and  liberal  basis,  and  the 
same  freedom  from  every  species  of  sectarianism,  which  dis 
tinguishes  that  Order. 

"  It  also  offers  to  all  Lodges  and  Encampments,  contri 
buting  one  hundred  dollars  to  the  funds  of  the  institution, 
a  perpetual  scholarship ;  and  to  each  individual  contributor 
of  the  same  amount,  a  scholarship  for  twenty  years,  or 
during  his  natural  life.  By  this  arrangement  we  hope  to 
be  able,  at  some  future  day,  to  offer  free  instruction  to  all 
poor  orphan  daughters  of  the  Order  in  the  State.  This, 
indeed,  is  a  primary  object  had  in  view  by  the  Board  in  the 
establishment  of  their  institution,  and  will  not  be  lost  sight 
of  in  their  future  plans  and  labor  for  the  permanent  organi 
zation  of  their  school. 


250  EDUCATION. 

"During  the  past  year  the  attention  of  the  Board  has 
been  directed  chiefly  towards  the  collection  of  funds,  and  to 
the  preparations  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  College  edi 
fice  for  the  use  of  the  institution. 

l(  In  this  effort,  very  gratifying  success  has  rewarded  their 
labor.  Notwithstanding  the  protracted  illness  of  their  agent 
has  deprived  the  Board  of  his  services  for  nearly  one-half 
of  the  past  year,  yet  they  are  happy  to  report  the  collection 
of  about  $8000  in  cash,  notes,  valid  subscriptions;  and  other 
property,  as  the  result  of  their  efforts. 

"  The  City  Council  at  Iowa  City,  at  their  regular  meeting 
in  September,  1853,  donated  to  the  Board  an  eligible  site 
for  their  College  edifice;  and  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
I.  0.  of  0.  F.  of  the  State  of  Iowa  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the 
College,  October  27th,  1853,  with  the  usual  ceremonies  of 
the  Order." 

The  edifice  will  be  completed  and  ready  for  occupation  by 
the  first  of  July,  1855. 

For  further  particulars,  address  F.  H.  Lee,  Secretary, 
Iowa  City. 

See  particulars  of  "  Iowa  Conference  Seminary,"  of  Mt. 
Vernon,  and  of  the  "  Iowa  Wesleyan  University,"  "  Mt. 
Pleasant  High  School,  and  Female  Academy,"  in  the 
sketches  of  Linn  and  Henry  Counties. 

Iowa  College. 

This  College  is  located  in  the  city  of  Davenport,  and 
occupies  grounds  of  great  natural  beauty,  overlooking  a  wide 


EDUCATION.  251 

expanse  of  prairie  on  the  north,  and  commanding  on  the 
south  a  fine  view  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  the  adjacent 
cities. 

It  was  founded  in  1848,  and  is  sharing  in  the  general 
prosperity  attending  every  enterprise  in  this  attractive 
State. 

The  institution,  under  the  care  of  well-qualified  instruct 
ors,  is  furnished  with  a  chemical  and  philosophical  appa 
ratus,  and  has  a  library  of  some  2000  volumes.  With  the 
new  building  soon  to  be  erected,  and  a  commodious  boarding- 
house  already  in  use,  the  College  will  be  prepared  to  offer 
facilities  for  a  thorough  education,  both  in  the  preparatory 
and  college  departments. 

"Ladiei  College." 

The  above  is  the  name  of  an  institution  soon  to  be  opened 
in  the  city  of  Davenport,  (we  write  under  date  of  April  1st,) 
under  the  direction  of  T.  H.  Codding,  Esq.,  who  is  also  its 
proprietor.  The  building,  when  completed,  at  a  cost  of 
$20,000,  will  present  a  front  of  120  feet,  and  four  stories 
in  height,  with  a  depth  of  80  feet.  The  main  building  will 
be  ready  for  the  reception  of  scholars  on  the  1st  of  May. 
Upon  the  selection  of  the  site  for  the  "  Ladies'  College/' 
too  much  praise  can  scarcely  be  bestowed.  Standing  upon 
a  lofty  bluff,  it  commands  a  sweep  of  landscape  scarce  ex 
celled  throughout  the  region  of  the  Upper  Mississippi, 
while  the  broad  summit  of  the  hill,  whose  centre  it  decks, 
affords  ample  room  for  extensive  promenades,  and  the  gentle 


252  EDUCATION. 

slopes  which  decline  towards  the  lowlands,  render  it  easy 
of  access  to  pedestrians  and  carriages. 

The  aim  of  the  "  Ladies'  College"  is  to  prepare  young 
ladies  for  the  active  practical  duties  of  life,  which  aim  it  is 
proposed  to  effect  by  a  judicious  combination  of  mental 
moral,  and  physical  training.  Its  proprietor  says : 

"  The  course  of  instruction  will  be  thorough  and  com 
plete,  and  at  the  same  time  very  discriminating  and  select, 
avoiding  everything  of  an  entirely  useless  character,  and 
substituting  those  branches  whose  tendency  is  to  give  vigor 
and  elasticity  to  the  youthful  mind. 

"The  manner  of  teaching  will  be  the  most  approved 
and  improved  known  in  our  country  or  in  Europe,  giving 
the  pupil  the  full  understanding  of  her  subject,  while  it  is 
presented  by  the  teacher  in  a  style  entirely  new  and  fasci 
nating." 

To  insure  to  pupils  a  thorough  English  and  classical  edu 
cation,  and  familiarity  with  the  languages,  a  large  corps  of 
experienced  and  accomplished  teachers  have  been  engaged 
as  assistants  to  Mr.  T.  H.  Codding  and  Mrs.  0.  Codding, 
the  Principals  and  Superintendents  of  the  Institute. 


RELIGIOUS    WORSHIP.  253 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

RELIGIOUS    WORSHIP. 

Congregational  Churches. — The  State  of  Iowa  is  divided 
into  five  associations.  The  latest  reports  are  from  the  pro 
ceedings  of  the  annual  Association,  in  June,  1854,  as 
follows : — 

No.  of  Members, 

Council  Bluffs  Association,  40  No.  of  Ministers  in  the  State,  57 

Davenport                "          471  "     Churches     "         "       72 

Denmark                  "          759  Meeting  Houses  built               39 

Des  Moines  River     "         362  <«            "      building          6 
Dubuque                   "          604 

Estimated  addition  in  9   2236 
months 250 

2486 

Congregational  churches  are  thus  located  :  Council  Bluffs 
Association. — Civil  Bend,  Council  Bluffs,  Tabor,  (Florence, 
N.  T.).  Davenport  Association. — Anamosa,  Copper  Creek, 
Davenport,  Deep  Creek,  De  Witt,  Le  Claire,  Lyons,  Ma 
rion,  Muscatine,  Sabula,  Sterling,  Sugar  Creek,  Summit, 
Tipton,  Toledo.  Denmark  Association. — Brighton,  Bur 
lington,  Clay,  Columbus,  Crawfordsville,  Danville,  Den 
mark,  Flint,  Hillsboro',  Long  Creek,  Mount  Pleasant, 
North  Marion,  Old  Man's  Creek,  Salem,  Trenton,  Wapello, 
Warren,  Wayne.  DCS  Moines  River  Association. — Ben- 
22 


254 


RELIGIOUS    WORSHIP. 


tonsport,  Chariton,  Eddyville,  Elk  Creek,  Fairfield,  Farm- 
ington,  Keosauqua,  Knoxsville,  Marysville,  Oskaloosa,  Ot- 
tumwa,  Pleasantville,  Red  Rock.  Dubuque  Association. 
— Bellevue,  Bowen's  Prairie,  Cascade,  Centre,  Colesburg, 
Cottonville,  Decorah,  Dubuque,  Durango,  Farmersburgh, 
French  Settlement,  Garnaville,  Lansing,  Manona,  Maquo- 
keta,  Quasqueton,  Sherold's  Mound,  Teroli,  West  Union, 
Yankee  Settlement. 

Statistical  Table  of  Baptists  in  Iowa. 


Associations. 

Churches. 

Pastors. 

1!! 

S"9 

No.  of 
Members. 

Date  of  Report. 

Des  Moines  

21 

11 

247 

1159 

Aug.  25  1854. 

24 

17 

73 

1078 

Sept  15   1854 

Oskaloosa      

16 

5 

32 

502 

Aug  3o'l854 

14 

6 

98 

384 

Sept.  29   1854 

Fox  River           . 

17 

7 

69 

628 

Sept  8  1854 

Eden  

10 

8 

300 

6  Associations    

102 

49 

519 

4051 

Not  included  in  above 

3 

11 

49 

A  low  estimate. 

105 

60 

519 

4100 

Statistical  History  of  tlic  Iowa  Baptist  Convention. 


Anniver'y. 

Where    Held. 

Moderator. 

Clerk. 

In.  Preacher. 

1st—  1842. 
2d—  1843. 
3d_i844. 
4th—  1845. 
5th—  1846. 
6th—  1847. 
7th—  1848. 
8th—  1849. 
9th—  1850. 
10th  ?;  ses 
1861  J2jes 
llth—  1R52. 
12th—  1853. 
13th—  1854. 

Iowa  City, 
Davenport. 
Mt.  Pleasant, 
Bloomington, 
Iowa  City, 
Farmington, 
Davenport, 
Iowa  City, 
Mt.   Pleasant, 
Muscatine, 
Bmlington, 

Rev.  B.  Carpenter, 
Rev.  H.  Johnson. 
Rev.  E.  Fisher, 

Rev.  W.  B.  Morey, 
J.  T.  Fales, 
C.  G.  Blood, 

Rev.  H.  Johnson. 
A.  Sherwood. 
C.  E.  Brown. 

Rev.  B.  F.  Brabrook, 
J.  T.  Fales,  Esq., 
Rev.  D.  P.  Smith, 
Rev.  B.  F.  Brabrook, 
Rev.  D.  P.  Smith, 
J.  T.  Fales,  Esq.r 
J.  T.  Fales,  Esq., 

J.  T.  Fales, 
Rev.  W.  B.  Morey. 
Rev.  T.  H.  Archibald, 
Rev.  T  H.  Archibald, 
Rev.  S.  B.  Johnson, 
Rev.  S.  B.  Johnson, 
Rev.  S.  B.  Johnson, 

J.  N.  Seely. 
H.  Burnett. 
D.  P.  Smith. 
C.  E.  Brown. 
T.  H.  Archibald. 
G.  J.  Johnson. 
W.A.  Wells. 
J.  A.  Nash. 
G.  J.  Johnson. 
W.  Elliott. 

Keokuk, 
Davenport, 

Rev.  E.  M.  Miles, 
Rev.  H.  Burnett, 

Rev.  Wm.  Turton, 
Rev.  H.  R.  Wilbur, 

RELIGIOUS    WORSHIP.  255 

Presbyterian  Churches. — The  Synod  of  Iowa  is  divided 
into  three  Presbyteries.  According  to  the  statistical  re 
ports  for  1854,  this  Synod  consists  of  the  following : — 

No.  Members.        No.  Churches. 

1.  Presbytery  of  Iowa 247  24 

2.  Presbytery  of  Cedar 799  47 

3.  Presbytery  of  Des  Momes 787  100 

In  Synod  of  Iowa 1833  171 

Location  of  Presbyterian  Churches. 

First  Presbytery. — Keokuk,  West  Point,  Middletown, 
Morning  Sun,  Mount  Pleasant,  Charleston,  Burlington, 
Lowell,  Spring  Creek,  Fort  Madison,  and  Kossuth.  Se 
cond  Presbytery.  —  Muscatine,  West  Liberty,  Farmer's 
Creek,  Tipton,  Scotch  Grove,  Cascade,  Grandview,  Marion, 
Lime  Grove,  Dubuque,  Davenport,  Iowa  City,  Le  Claire, 
Solon,  Blue  Grass,  Maquoketa,  Postville,  Franckville, 
Colesburg,  Lybrand,  Pleasant  Grove,  Yinton,  Indepen 
dence,  Hopkinton,  Lisbon,  Princeton.  Third  Presbytery. 
— Fairfield,  Libertyville,  Sigourney,  Birmingham,  Win 
chester,  Oskaloosa,  Washington,  Brighton,  Albia,  Craw- 
fordsville,  Troy,  Keosauqua,  Bentonsport,  Kirkville,  Indi- 
anolo,  Ottumwa,  Knoxville,  and  Ft.  Des  Moines. 
*  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. — The  territorial  limits  of 
the  diocese  embrace  the  entire  State.  The  Right  Bev.  H. 
W.  Lee,  D.  D.,  is  the  bishop  of  the  same.  It  was  orga 
nized  into  a  diocese,  August  18th,  1853,  under  the  provi- 
sionary  charge  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  J.  Kemper,  D.  D.  The 
present  bishop  was  elected  June  1st,  1854. 


256 


RELIGIOUS    WORSHIP. 


There  are  organized  parishes  in  the  following  places : — 
Dubuque,  Bellevue,  Davenport,  Muscatine,  Burlington,  Ft. 
Madison,  Keokuk,  Ft.  Des  Moines,  Washington,  Iowa  City, 
and  Cedar  Rapids.  Churches  are  built  in  the  following 
places  : — Dubuque,  Davenport,  Muscatine,  Burlington,  and 
Keokuk,  and  one  is  in  progress  at  Cedar  Rapids. 

The  number  of  clergy  in  the  diocese  is  11 ;  number  of 
communicants,  about  300.  Immigration  is  adding  to  fami 
lies  and  communicants  every  month.  Number  of  Sunday 
Schools  not  ascertained  as  yet.  The  second  annual  conven 
tion  meets  at  Burlington,  on  the  29th  of  May  next. 

Methodist  Churches. 

In  the  following  table  we  give  a  full  history  of  the  con 
dition  of  the  Methodist  Churches  in  Iowa,  as  rendered  at 
the  Eleventh  Annual  Conference,  held  September  27th, 
1854:— 

M.  E.  CHURCHES. 


DISTRICTS. 

Churches. 

rf 

Preachers. 

Members. 

DISTRICTS 

Churches. 

Parsonag's. 

1 

Members. 

Keokuk  
Burlington.... 
Dubuque  
Upper  Iowa  ... 
Mt.  Vernon  .... 

22 
23 
8 
15 
4 

7 
10 
5 
4 
4 

49 
35 
21 
21 

30 

4171 
2830 
1518 
1332 
1374 

Iowa  City  
Ft.  Des  Moines 
Council  Bluffs 

Total  

14 

7 
3 

80 

6 
9 
0 

41 

33 
41 
13 

222 

1948 

2882 
408 

15131 

M.  E.  SABBATH  SCHOOLS. 


*£ 

"8  % 

Sfr 

"S  * 

DISTRICTS. 

I 

jjjj 

II 

•o- 

s£ 

DISTRICTS. 

A 

i 

"o 

11 
o  ^ 

c  "i 

£ 

i 

>ti 

3* 

i 

1 

>a 

Keokuk  

62 

2650 

6263 

112 

Ft.  Des  Moines 

41 

1656 

4151 

34 

Burlington.... 

39 

2496 

5615 

94 

Council  Bluffs 

11 

417 

850 

3 

Dubuque  

2* 

1363 

4657 

9 

Scattering  

4 

430 

100 

6 

Mt.  Vernon,... 

36 

1146 

4229 

48 

Total  

271 

13,254 

35,173 

398 

Iowa  City  

39 

1215 

3715 

35 

RELIGIOUS   WORSHIP.  257 

Catholic  Churches  and  Clergy. 

The  diocess  of  Dubuque,  comprises  the  State  of  Iowa,  and 
is  administered  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Mathias  Loras,  D.  D.  The 
principal  buildings  at  Dubuque  embrace  the  "  Cathedral  of 
St.  Raphael,"  now  nearly  completed,  the  "  Holy  Trinity," 
(German),  and  a  new  and  spacious  church  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  city,  "under  the  patronage  of  St.  Patrick."  Also 
the  "Mount  St.  Bernard  Theological  Seminary,"  situated 
four  miles  from  Dubuque,  with  ten  seminaries  and  three 
professors ;  the  "  Cistercian  Monastery  of  Our  Blessed  Lady 
of  La  Trappe,"  New  Melleray,  near  Dubuque ;  "  Brothers 
of  Christian  Instruction,"  at  New  Paradise  Grove,  four 
miles  from  Dubuque,  and  "  St.  Joseph's  Female  Academy," 
situated  eight  miles  from  Dubuque.  Beside  the  above,  the 
Catholics  have  the  "  Convent  and  Academy  of  the  Visita 
tion,"  at  Keokuk,  and  churches  and  stations  at  the  follow 
ing  named  places  : — 

Dubuque  County,  at  Dubuque,  Cascade,  Green  Oak,  New 
Vienna,  St.  Joseph's,  Shellsmound,  St.  Nicholas,  and  T6te- 
de-Mort ; 

Jackson  County,  at  Garry  Owen,  St.  Lawrence,  Cascade, 
Belleview,  and  Sabula; 

Jones  County,  at  Castle  Grove,  and  St.  Thomas; 

Delaware  County,  at  Buffalo  Grove ; 

Clayton  County,  at  Carnovillo,  and  Guttenberg ; 

Clinton  County,  at  Lyons,  and  Camanche ; 
99* 


258  RELIGIOUS    WORSHIP. 

Scott  County,  at  Davenport,*  and  Le  Claire; 

Muscatine   County,  at  Muscatine; 

Johnson  County,  at  Iowa  City,  English  River,  and  Old 
Man's  Creek; 

Des  Moines  County,  at  Burlington,  Dodgeville,  and 
Augusta ; 

Lee  County,  at  West  Point,  Fort  Madison,  Keokuk,  and 
Farmington ; 

Winnesheik  County,  at  Big  Springs,  and  Old  Mission ;  at 
Ottumwa,  Wapello  County ;  Ft.  Des  Moines,  Polk  County ; 
Council  Bluffs,  Pottawattamie  County,  and  New  Paradise 
Grove,  near  Mount  St.  Bernard. 

Recapitulation. — Churches,  35;  stations,  17;  clergymen, 
29  ;  religious  communities,  5 ;  Catholic  academies,  4 ;  Ca 
tholic  population,  20,000. 

*  The  Catholic  is  the  largest  church  in  Davenport,  covering  an 
area  44  by  84  feet.  The  cost  of  the  edifice  was  about  $10,000. 
Number  of  members,  3000,  (many  of  them  residing  in  the  coun 
try.)  Connected  with  the  church  is  a  youths'  school,  conducted 
by  Rev.  J.  A.  M.  Pelamourgues,  and  three  assistant  teachers. 
The  entire  square  upon  which  these  buildings  are  located,  was 
donated  to  the  church,  by  Antoine  Le  Claire. 


BENEVOLENT    SOCIETIES. 


259 


CHAPTER  XXIX; 


BENEVOLENT    SOCIETIES. 


Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 


Location.  No.  of  Members. 

Burlington 50 

Muscatine 63 

Dubuque 44 

Iowa  City 28 

Wapello 23 

Marion 49 

Augusta 18 

Mount  Pleasant 35 

Keosauqua 46 

Tipton 26 

Keokuk 29 

Fort  Madison , 18 

Bloomfield 33 

Fairfield 35 

Ottumwa 25 

Salem 49 

Oskaloosa 47 

Lyons — 

Burlington 23 

Agency  City 34 

Ft.  Des  Moines 18 

Grandview 17 

Rochester 17 

Cedar  Rapids 28 


Location.  No.  of  Members. 

Washington 30 

Farmington, 16 

New  London 32 

Keokuk 23 

Muscatine 37 

Iowa  City 20 

Sigourney 80 

Winchester 21 

De  Witt 23 

Kirkville 24 

Maquoketa 16 

Davenport 28 

Richland 11 

Sabula 20 

Troy 16 

Libertyville 23 

Centreville 14 

Wintersett 15 

Le  Claire 13 

Crawfordville 13 

Anamosa 11 

Bentonsport 7 

Cedar  Falls — 


NOTE. — This  table  is  taken  from  the  Report  made  to  the  Grand 
Annual  Communication,  June  6th,  1854.     Other  lodges  have  been 


260 


BENEVOLENT    SOCIETIES. 


organized  since,  and  numerous  members  added  to  the  Order,  but 
this  is  the  latest  reliable  data  accessible.  In  this  list  the  lodges 
are  arranged  according  to  their  age  and  No.,  except  that  one  (No. 
9),  "revoked,"  is  omitted;  so  that  Mount  Pleasant  is  No.  8,  Keo- 
sauqua,  10,  Tipton,  11,  &c.  The  next  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Iowa,  will  be  held  in  Keosauqua,  Van  Buren  County,  the  first 
Tuesday  in  June,  1856. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

There  are  of  the  I.  0.  of  0.  F.  in  this  State,  sixty-one 
lodges,  which  are  located  in  the  following  counties  : — 


Appanoose, 

Fayette, 

Mahaska, 

Buchanan, 

Henry, 

Madison, 

Black  Hawk, 

Jackson, 

Muscatine, 

Bremer, 

Jefferson, 

Pottawattamie, 

Clayton, 

Johnson, 

Polk, 

Cedar, 

Jones, 

Scott, 

Clinton, 

Keokuk, 

Van  Buren, 

Delaware, 

Lee, 

WappeUo, 

Dubuque, 

Louisa, 

Washington, 

Des  Moines, 

Lima, 

Winnesheik, 

Davis, 

Marion, 

Warren. 

Sons  of  Temperance. 

The  number  of  divisions  of  Sons  of  Temperance  in  the 
State,  as  near  as  we  can  ascertain,  is  not  far  from  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty,  most  of  which  are  located  as  follows  : — 

Counties.  Towns. 

Appanoose Centreville. 

Black  Hawk, Waterloo. 

Cedar, Rochester,  Springdale. 

Clinton, De  Witt,  Camanche. 

Davis Bloomfield. 

Delaware, Delhi,  Hopkinton,  Uniontown. 


BENEVOLENT    SOCIETIES.  261 

Counties.  Towns. 

Des  Moines, Burlington. 

Dubuque, Dubuque,  Hogansville. 

Henry, Mount   Pleasant,  Salem. 

I  Andrew,  Bellevue,  S.  Fork,  Sa- 

Jacksan> 1  bula,  Lamotte. 

Jasper Newton. 

Jefferson, Fairfield,  Glasgow. 

Johnson, Iowa  City. 

Keokuk, Sigourney. 

Lee, Keokuk. 

Louisa, Toolsboro'. 

Lucas, Chariton. 

Mahaska, Hopewell,  Oskaloosa, 

Marion, Knoxville. 

Monroe, Albia. 

Mills, Silver  Creek,  Glenwood. 

Polk, Ft.  Des  Moines. 

c     ,                                             $  Davenport,     Le     Claire,     Blue 

)  Grass. 

Van  Buren  ...                        ...  \  Keosauqua,   Farmmgton,  Pitts- 

"(  burg. 

!0ttumwa,  Dahlonega,  Agency 
City,  Eddyville,  Bentonsport, 
Bonaparte,  Birmingham. 

Washington, Washington,  Richmond. 

Warren, Indianola. 

James  Thorington,  of  Davenport,  is  G.  W.  P.  of  Iowa. 


262  BANKING-HOUSF 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

BANKING-HOUSES. 

IN  Iowa,  the  issue  of  bank-notes  is  prohibited  by  law, 
consequently  we  have  no  home  currency,  and  depend  en 
tirely  upon  other  States  for  a  circulating  medium.  Al 
though  we  occasionally  receive  the  refuse  of  the  East,  yet 
large  quantities  of  notes  of  the  safest  banks  are  continually 
sent  west  for  circulation.  Hence,  every  State,  from  Maine 
to  Georgia,  and  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
contributes  to  the  assortment,  while  at  the  same  time  the 
proportion  of  coin  is  greater  here  than  at  the  East.  This  is 
in  a  measure  owing  to  the  immigration  from  the  Eastern 
States  and  Europe. 

There  are  banking  houses  at  most  of  the  important  towns 
in  the  State,  where  banking,  exchange,  and  land  agency 
business  is  transacted,  and  to  them  we  refer  the  reader,  as 
every  way  worthy  of  confidence  and  patronage.  Of  these, 
we  would  mention — 

At  Burlington. — Green,  Thomas  &  Co.,  successors  to  E. 
W.  Clark,  Bros.,  &  Co.,  bankers,  dealers  in  exchange,  and 
land  agents ; 

At  Cedar  Rapids. — Green  &  Weare,  bankers,  collector, 
and  general  land  agents;  Ward  &  Bryan,  bankers  ani 
land  agents ; 


BANKING-HOUSES.  263 

At  Council  Blu/s. — Green,  Weare  £  Benton,  bankers, 
collectors,  and  general  land  agents ; 

At  Dubuque. — M.  Mobley,  exchange  and  banking  house ; 
F.  S.  Jessup  &  Co.,  bankers,  dealers  in  eastern  and  southern 
exchange,  land  warrants,  &c. ;  W.  J.  Barney  &  Co.,  bank 
ers,  dealers  in  exchange,  and  general  land  agents ; 

At  Davenport. — Cook  &  Sargent,  bankers,  dealers  in 
eastern  and  southern  exchange,  and  general  land  agents; 
McGregor,  Lawes  &  Blakemore,  bankers,  exchange  and  real 
estate  brokers ;  Maclot  and  Corbin,  bankers  and  dealers  in 
exchange ;  Yerby  &  Barrow,  bankers  and  dealers  in  domes 
tic  and  foreign  exchange,  and  land  agents ; 

At  Fort  Des  Moines. — Cook,  Sargent  &  Cook,  bankers, 
dealers  in  exchange,  and  land  agents ;  Green,  Weare  &  Rice 
bankers,  collectors,  and  general  land  agents ;  Maclot,  Corbin 
&  White,  bankers,  exchange  brokers,  and  land  agents; 
Hoyt  Sherman,  banker  and  dealer  in  exchange  and  land 
warrants ; 

At  Fairfidd. — Henn,  Williams  &  Co.,  dealers  in  land 
warrants  and  exchange ; 

At  Iowa  City. — Cook,  Sargent  &  Downey,  bankers  and 
general  land  agents ; 

At  Tipton. — W.  H.  Tuthill,  banker,  and  dealer  in  ex 
change  and  land  warrants. 

At  each  of  these  banking-houses,  interest  is  paid  on  spe 
cial  deposits ;  bills  of  exchange  on  all  the  principal  cities  of 
the  United  States  and  Europe  are  bought  and  sold;  gold 
and  silver  are  bought  and  sold,  loans  effected,  and  all  other 


264 


BANKING-HOUSES. 


banking  business  transacted,  save  the  issue  of  bills.  As 
land  agencies,  they  buy  and  sell  warrants,  select  and  entor 
vacant  lands,  examine  titles,  &c. 

One  species  of  coin  is  not  current  in  this  State ;  we  al 
lude  to  the  cent  and  half-cent,  while  even  the  three-cent 
piece  is  barely  tolerated,  and  is  seldom  seen  except  in  church- 
plates,  and  at  the  post-office. 


THE   END. 


RETURN    CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

TO—  ^    202  Main  Library 

LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

Renewals  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 

Books  may  be  Renewed  by  calling        642-3405 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 


AUTO  DISC  CIRC      0,09*93 


'    '-." 


rJUL  0  7  r 


CT   t  0  201 


FORM  NO.  DD6 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELE 
BERKELEY,  CA  94720 


U.C.BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


